SMAE and Local Anaesthetics

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Just read the Public indemnity insurance thread and thought I'd look at the BCPA page.

Their home page below has a last paragraph which quite startled me regarding them now being able to give LA's. Considering their training compared to ours - OK you can't compare them, what do you all think about this capability?

Nick

"Welcome to the British Chiropody and Podiatry Association Website

The British Chiropody & Podiatry Association (formed in 1959) is the largest professional organisation in the UK representing the interest of thousands of independent private chiropodists and podiatrists, who have all trained at The SMAE Institute, the School of Surgical Chiropody at Maidenhead, Berkshire.

Upon completion of their basic training, Parts 1 and 2, Chiropody/Podiatry, members are entitled to use the letters MSSCh (Member of the School of Surgical Chiropodists) and MBChA (Member of the British Chiropody and Podiatry Association - BCPA).

Completion of all postgraduate training courses and modules results in the award of the Diploma in Podiatric Medicine (DipPodMed). Some members may go on to be awarded Fellowship of the School of Surgical Chiropodists and be entitled to use the letters FSSCh.

Since 2003 the only route available to become a chiropodist/podiatrist is a 3 year degree programme. The SMAE Institute provides high quality CPD for BCPA members to ensure they comply with the CPD requirements of the HCPC. The SMAE Institute is also proud to announce that their Diploma in Local Anaesthesia has been included on the HCPC's list of approved programmes. "

 

I have no link with SMAE or the British Chiropody and Podiatry Association and have no personal interest apart from 40 years of practice in our profession (getting my LA certificate in 1972).

The facts are surely;

1) Some British Chiropody and Podiatry Association members are Chiropodists/Podiatrists (note I refer to the professional title protected by Statute and do not use the word registered - because anyone using those titles or any adjectival form of those titles must by law be registered with the HCPC).

2) Some Chiropodists/Podiatrists have POM certification and LA and some do not.

3) As a result of 1 & 2, obviously some Chiropodists/Podiatrists who are British Chiropody and Podiatry Association members have LA & POMS and others do not.

As a result of 1 & 2 & 3, why should their reference to LA be an issue?

In fact surely they would be more open to criticism if they did not seek to provide;
a) on-going update training and education for those of their Chiropodist/Podiatrist members who are already certificated and
b) top-up training to allow a pathway for their Chiropodist/Podiatrist members who are not already certificated to become so.
These actions are surely is some of the core purposes of a professional body.

ON the issue of training re LA - it must by law have had to be approved by the HCPC and therefore must be at least meet the same standard as other LA training approved by the same organisation.

Fraternally

Tom Galloway

 

Nick

you said

They say

I want to ask,

Why cant you compare them?

and :-

What does their training involve as described and how does it differ from your model ??

Cheers
Derek

 

I think Kitos should take this up with the HCPC directly if he feels that there is a problem, and then report back.

Although I was not involved personally I do have some knowledge of the training and examining which went on prior to LA Certs being granted to BCPA members. It was very thorough.

 

David

'It was very thorough' I can confirm this, there were two Consultant Podiatric Surgeons & one Consultant Anaesthetist concerned with the course formulation; they were insistant that no corners should be cut.

On a wider aspect, it is arguable that the stronger the foundation you build upon the greater the chance of attaining proficient expertise. This would weight in favour of those completing a 3 year course.

Then again there is a prevalent view that once a qualification is obtained you are of a certain standard; that may be the case in respect of knowledge gained but certainly not in respect of the level of expertise. As Tom Galloway indicated, he gained LA certification 40 years ago; I suspect he gained further expertise over those 40 years that is not reflected in any academic qualification.

 

I think that you have misread the BCPA website. No one is qualified to give LA unless they are properly trained.
The BCPA has a training program and it has been approved by the HCPC. Surely you can't argue with that?
" Diploma in Local Anaesthesia has been included on the HCPC's list of approved programmes. "