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HCPC - A Grand Deception

Discussion in 'United Kingdom' started by Mark Russell, Apr 20, 2014.

  1. rosherville

    rosherville Active Member

    Mark

    I`m sure you`re not surprised. As you said, 'as you might expect there are a couple of minor matters to be resolved beforehand' !
     
  2. rosherville

    rosherville Active Member

    Mark

    might think about sending them back to the Registrar with a note to say you will consider cancelling your registration unless the HCPC makes a public position statement

    Which of course they won`t. Anyone considering deregistering would do better to resign rather than let their membership lapse, it`s more of a statement

    "Letter writing is fine, but when you have hold of their wallets, the hearts and minds follow shortly."

    Sadly yes, actions speak louder than words !
     
  3. I'm not sure what the difference is - lapse or resign. Send a covering letter to inform you are deregistering - or intending to unless your concerns are addressed. Then post a note on your website or surgery window informing patients you have formerly been registered with the HCPC but have decided no longer to support a regulatory regime that endangers the public. List your podiatry qualifications and scope of practise and any FtP conditions you have been subjected to (if applicable) - and promote yourself as a non-HCPC Podiatrist. Of course, one of the consequences of the disclosures on regulation in the appeal court is that FHPs who hold voluntary registration with bodies like the Alliance can also use the title Registered Chiropodist - unfortunately. As long as they don't hold out to be on the HCPC Register they are committing no offence.
     
  4. Just had a call from my solicitor who brought me up to date with what happened last week. The previous week, during a call with the HCPC's solicitors, we were given an indication that the HCPC wished to enter a dialogue to resolve matters out of court. Last week the court appointed a case management hearing for Friday at 9.30am. This was an independent listing by the court - the previous one being adjourned by the HCPC. After the telephone call there was an expectation that the same would happen last week. The HCPC did not contact us until late Thursday to say they would be attending the hearing after all and would be making an application for a new trial.

    On Friday my QC attended in my absence. The HCPC made an application for a new trial but requested time to review the witness statements in the exhibits as new counsel has been appointed following the removal of Lydia Barnfather QC at the Old Bailey. The court accepted the request and the prosecution has tabled a new trial date for 15 September 2015.

    Meanwhile, the Bar Standards Board has opened an investigation into the conduct of Ms Barnfather and have requested the court transcripts and prosecution papers as part of their investigation. Ms Barnfather's chambers are still displaying the case as one of her "notable cases of 2013" - and the HCPC continue to display on their website that I have been convicted of an offence with intent to deceive. Which of course, is untrue.

    http://www.qebholliswhiteman.co.uk/...?intCurrSitePageId=270&intDataSitePageId=2229

    http://www.hcpc-uk.org/mediaandevents/pressreleases/index.asp?id=706

    This will be the last posting on this case on this site.

    Best wishes.
     
  5. DTT

    DTT Well-Known Member

  6. Snowstorm

    Snowstorm Active Member

    It is apparent from the many threads on Podiatry Arena that there are many contributors that have little in the way of credible qualification, yet pontificate the direction of the profession.
    The HCPC in my opinion makes an obvious false claim in respect to the practices of podiatry/chiropody, it does not protect the public and is profoundly discriminative in this respect. The farce will continue for as long as complacency reigns in the credible part of this diminishing profession. There is a dire need for a leadership that is proactive and representative of its members. Mark Russell has the true courage of his conviction in challenging the HCPC. I propose with Mark Russell’s consent that we form a new organization to carry forward the sentiment shared by those who wish for a profession free from
    those who choose to exploit it.
     
  7. Kaleidoscope

    Kaleidoscope Active Member

    Mark

    Just read your article in our Pod mag - it certainly sets the scene and fills in all the gaps (for those that are following you closely) - well done you for publishing!

    Cheers
    Linda Russell
     
  8. blinda

    blinda MVP

    Pleased to see that the SCP has afforded Mark the opportunity to summarise events, thus far.

    Pages 17-21 in this months Podiatry Now.
     
  9. blinda

    blinda MVP

    Jinx!
     
  10. Kaleidoscope

    Kaleidoscope Active Member

    Bel

    OMG! The EXACT time lol!!!!!!!!!

    We truly ARE twins separated at birth lol! 4 fish between us ....only needed the bread lol!

    Cheers

    Linda
     
  11. Ian Linane

    Ian Linane Well-Known Member

    I agree that credit is due to the SCP for allowing this to be published. Credit also to Mark for being willing to expose a quite personal and unpleasant, to say the least, experience, undertaken with the "best intent". Of course this is one perspective and so I am sure that if the HCPC wished to address anything in Mark's article this would also be welcomed in Pod Now and certainly appreciated by readers.
     
  12. Claire72

    Claire72 Active Member

    Hi all

    I appreciate that this subject has been discussed at length, and I admit that I struggle to understand it fully, 'it' being; the actual issues relating to the HCPC, Marks case, and the apparent apathy which surrounds this entirely important issue which baffles me, but why was Snowstorms comment # 46, entirely ignored? (Yes I did say all that without taking a breath.)

    If someone has the time to tell me what’s what, that would be great. I am from Yorkshire where spades are spades…..we don’t have disingenuous shovels up here.

    Anyway, I just have a couple of related queries; has anyone ever discovered any research that has been carried out on the public understanding of the value of the HCPC.

    And am I correct in my understanding that currently ‘FHPs who hold voluntary registration with bodies like the Alliance can also use the title Registered Chiropodist’ as per Mark Russell #43 in this thread.

    I use the term ‘registered chiropodist’ which my elderly clients recognise, as in ‘registered nurse’; clearly not a good idea then?

    Thanks in anticipation.

    Claire
     
  13. Hi Clare

    I doubt whether 95% of the public have ever heard of the HCPC never mind trying to comprehend the 'value' of the quango. I'm sure such deliberations would have distracted Phraedrus, but for Joe Public, they are most likely to see through the mists of obfuscation and view them for what they are - a waste of time.

    I'm not a lawyer but from those who are versed in such practice it seems that the underlying legislation is insufficient on a number of grounds. The concept of Protected Titles as portrayed by the HCPC is incorrect - as is their concept of protecting the public through the FtP process. You commit an offence only if it can be proven you intended to deceive - holding out to be HCPC registered when you are not, for example. It seems that you can use podiatrist when you make it expressly clear that you are not HCPC registered. How the court might interpret another registration I cannot say, but there is nothing in the legislation that would prevent someone registering with another body and prefixing it to podiatrist or chiropodist - indeed it could be argued, that was a clear expression of non HCPC registration. A few months ago, it was suggested that a General Podiatry Council might be started to effect a new regulatory platform for podiatry. I wonder how things are progressing?
     
  14. W J Liggins

    W J Liggins Well-Known Member

    Hello Claire (and Snowstorm). It became clear many years ago, from the outset, when during a 'question and answer' event, Tom Galloway's usual perspicacious questions were answered with 'I'm fed up with chiropodist's moaning' that the HPC (now HCPC) had no interest whatsoever in supporting the podiatry profession in protecting the public. John Mason (Rosherville) and I set up a company named the 'General Podiatry Council'. The thrust of this organisation was to provide a body to analogous to the GMC covering the specific contexts of the podiatry profession, which could be taken to parliament an offered as an alternative to the HPC. Lord Hunt (then Minister of Health) stated informally that such a body would not be considered because 'You can't even agree between yourselves'. I was puzzled by this remark until many years later when I saw the documentation of an agreement between all the major bodies (BCPodA, Institute, Society) which even included a draft parliamentary Act for just the sort of body that had been envisaged. Apparently, the Society, for reasons best known to itself, pulled out of the agreement. The General Podiatry Council folded because of this lack of support. I understand that Hearing Aid Dispensers have obtained functional closure because 'the majority of them are in private practice' and are therefore considered 'different' from PAMS.

    If you care to search the Society journal, you will find my letter pointing out the reasons that our profession is far closer to dental surgery than any PAM, hence needing a separate Act. This letter was clearly ignored. Unless all the podiatry bodies - and that includes the Society - are prepared to work together for the future of the profession, there will be no profession in the future.

    Bill Liggins
     
  15. DTT

    DTT Well-Known Member

    And the chances of that happening Bill.....:deadhorse::sinking:
    Cheers
    D;)
     
  16. blinda

    blinda MVP

    " To tear down a factory or to revolt against a government or to avoid repair of a motorcycle because it is a system is to attack effects rather than causes; and as long as the attack is upon effects only, no change is possible. The true system, the real system, is our present construction of systematic thought itself, rationality itself, and if a factory is torn down but the rationality which produced it is left standing, then that rationality will simply produce another factory. If a revolution destroys a systematic government, but the systematic patterns of thought that produced that government are left intact, then those patterns will repeat themselves in the succeeding government. There’s so much talk about the system. And so little understanding"

    We can talk about how to expand the destiny of mankind (or improve regulation of the podiatry world) Phaedrus just wanted to talk about how to fix a motorcycle. I think that what he had to say has more lasting value.
     
  17. In a much simpler way, Orwell explained the same rationale with Animal Farm. Therein lies the paradox of our time! Only the enlightened and sagacious monkey gains true understanding..
     
  18. Kaleidoscope

    Kaleidoscope Active Member

    Hey Mark

    You know that we are ALL equal - but some of us are more equal that others....!

    ..... and therein lies the problem!

    Cheers
    Linda Russell
     
  19. Claire72

    Claire72 Active Member

    Thank you Mark for your response, and Bill for your comments, and I will try to dig out your letter. With regard to the other responders - great illustration of why these threads get utterly bogged down with tosh detracting any reader (well maybe only me), from the focus of the discussion.
     
  20. blinda

    blinda MVP

    You're obviously not familiar with Pirsig's metaphors or you would appreciate the relevance of the 'tosh'. Nevermind.
     
  21. W J Liggins

    W J Liggins Well-Known Member

    True: and Boxer the Shire horse stated 'I must work harder' (and all will be well). He worked himself to death and ended in the knackers yard.

    Bill Liggins
     
  22. rosherville

    rosherville Active Member

    John

    What stage are you with setting up a GPC?

    Mark


    I`m not repeating that exercise as I truly believe the moment has passed when it was a possibility. With such a disparate group, as now exists, the fate of the 'profession' is sealed.
     
  23. Ok. When I asked you a few weeks back
    you replied
    Obviously a change of heart, which is a pity as I think an option would be attractive to a significant number of the profession currently. Do you think you'd get fleeced? ;)
     
  24. rosherville

    rosherville Active Member

    Mark, you misunderstood. I wasn't referring to a GPC.
     
  25. Clearly - I seem to be susceptible to that failing. I thought the question and suggestion was unequivocal though.
     
  26. rosherville

    rosherville Active Member

    Clearly. Too many assumptions, dangerous, gets you into fixes !
     
  27. Not sure whether I'd class that as Machiavellian or Mainwairing, but very good all the same!
     
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