Australian podiatrists unable to get HPC registration to work in the UK due to changes to Standards

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I was wondering if anyone could shed some light on this matter:

At least 3 Australian podiatrists (with 2 years experience each) have applied to work in the UK in 2010 have been denied registration with the HPC.

Apparently changes have been made to the UK Standards of Proficiency (SOP) relating to prescription only medicine (POM) that has come into effect September 2009. I have not been able to find a practising podiatrist in Australia (some have even worked in UK recently) who was aware of these changes, and I was obviously not aware about this change before applying to the HPC. Furthermore the agency that is helping me was not aware of such changes.

As the prescribing legislation in Australia has only been accepted by the government this year and the rules for being able to prescibe are rather stringent (with due reason) the HPC is no longer accepting the Australian podiatry qualification.

Another confusing factor is that the Register of approved courses for prescription ony medicine appear to be pharmacology - which my course covered 2 subjects of this in the Bachelor degree!

With plans and tickets already brought for the o/s trip I would appreciate any help!

Thanks
V

 

Hi V,

Have you contacted APodC about this (assuming you are a member)? They help organize the NOOSR examinations for UK Pods coming to Australia and may be able to shed some light on the subject for you.

I am sure since we have reciprocal registration arrangements that someone, somewhere in Australia must know something about this?

Hope you get some answers and post back here with anything you find.

Also have you checked out this link? CLICK HERE Might have some people you can contact for more help.

 

The lady from the agency that we are going through sent an email through today so hopefully we will hear soon!

It is interesting since there is an agreement with Australia and the UK that it wasn't publicised here.

Will keep you updated.

 

Aussie pod not qualified for UK registration???

I have been in discussion with a friend of mine who has recently applied for the right to work as a Podiatrist over in the UK (something of which occurrs very regularly).

This person has recently been informed that their applicaion has been rejected as they have not met the required qualifications. This podiatrist has been working full time for a number of years and is a very capable podiatrist.

As the new 'accredited podiatrist' program has come a part of Australian podiatry (S4 prescribing rights, etc) the entrace requirements into the UK have changed. They now stipulate that the podiatrist must be an accredited podiatrist in order to have permission to work in the UK.

Surely this cannot be correct?? Are the HPC in the UK really suggesting that our regular bachelor of Podiarty degree from Australia does not make us qualified enough to work against and alongside the UK pods??

If anyone can shed some light on this subject I (along with my friend who has a flight booked for 2 months time) would greatly appreciate it.

Scott

 

I trained in the UK and have prescribing rights.... came to Oz, not accepted!

:deadhorse:

Also on the UK all podiatrists are legally required to have Continuing Professional Development (CPD). In Australia, Podiatrists whom are Accredited are recognised as also having kept up-to-date.
Maybe your friend has a portfolio demonstrating how they have done this, which may assist.

 

The HPC standards for chiropody/podiatry were amended in September 2009.

They included a provision that required registrants to meet standards to be able to prescribe POMs. I beleive this includes international applicants.

It is my understanding that this is a priority issue between APodC and SOCAP as there are many Australasian podiatrists that will be immediately affected by this, and may only be able to work as podiatry assistants if the policy is enforced.

I will keep my ear to the ground on updates...as I too may be affected as I was planning on going to the UK for some post grad training in 2010.

LL

 

How do you know they are not accepted? Have you asked, or provided appropriate documentation? The Vic Pod Board is assessing various Australian Podiatry courses (both UG and PG) for consistancy with the required education standard, but OS applicants will have to provide their own evidence.


from
http://www.podboardvic.vic.gov.au/cmsfiles/Education_Requirements.pdf

 

Just wondering if anyone has received a 'formal rejection' of their application to be registered with the HPC?

I am not sure if the rules have been changed so that all non EU podiatrists are excluded, or if they are still assessing applications on a case by case basis.

I personally was going to seek registration in the UK for a study tour later this year - but not sure if i should 'waste' AU$1000+ by sending an application only to have it rejected.

LL

 

Hello,
do these changes to the requirements of the HPC mean that registrants who were 'grandparented' onto the register and don't have POM certificates will not be able to re-register this year then? I can't see the difference between those registrants and those who are coming from abroad without a POM ?? perhaps I've misunderstood. having just read the changes myself again I take it as meaning you must be qualified and keep up to date to within your scope of practise so I would have thought were the POM was concerned you would surely be in the same boat as those currently already on the register without POM.

Hope someone can shed some light on this as its an interesting point particualrly with audits and reregistration coming up in june.
amanda

 

Yup, they have very long and ridiculously convoluted framework to comply with, which includes submitting research articles every year related to pharmacology. I think they dont actually want POM podiatrists in Australia!

Check the following link :
http://www.podboardvic.vic.gov.au/cmsfiles/Education_Requirements.pdf

 

I can't see anything different here for overseas trained than for Australian trained. The Board just wants to ensure that the OS trained are at the same standard, and expects the OS trained person to be able to demonstrate this. Though in time, once it has been demonstrated for a particular course, it will become easier for the 2nd and sunsequent person.

Also no need for research articles, just CPD (which will also be part of National Registration), which may include a research article as well as a number of other things.

 

You obviously missed this section:

There are a number of pathways to follow in order to become endorsed by the Board. For those podiatrists that have completed an appropriate course and who have at least 7 years of clinical experience with two referees (referrer guide) confirming that the applicant has worked in a hospital environment and has had adequate experience in observing administration of restricted drugs, are eligible to apply for endorsement of their registration. For other podiatrists who have completed an approved course, they will need to undertake further clinical training and 40 sessions of supervision.

The final step for a podiatrist to undertake prior to applying for endorsement is to undertake the required update course. This course must be completed within 12 months of applying for endorsement. It is therefore important that podiatrists do not undertake the course unless they are able to comply with the required rotations within this timeframe otherwise they risk having to repeat the course at a later stage.



So even if you are qualified, you still need to undertake further training and assessment, etc, etc. Lots of hoops.
I dont blame the Uk for also raising the bar! :butcher:

 

You see in Victoria you are NOT qualified until you have completed the educational requirements and either completed clinical supervision, or have 2 refferees indicating that you have sufficient and relavent experience. If you were able to get UK referees, and supply appropriate course documentation, I am sure they would be looked upon favourably. The board wants to encourage prescribers, and has now approved 3 courses of study in Australia (with more undergoing assessment) and last week endorsed the 1st 6 podiatrists.

 

Tried and got very polite email stating that I am not considered qualified and have to undertake all the previous.

Will stick with calling the Gps for emergency Ab cover in the case of osteomylitis and hope that they actually prescribe what's requested, not just Keflex.
:deadhorse:

But thanks for the advice :empathy:

 

Tkemp,

In the 1st instance the board only selected those to complete the LaTrobe update course from those with already accepted qualifications and experience (9 people, of which 6 are now endorsed). In the second round you may find it easier, as the course will allow for more registrants (including those wishing to go down the mentor pathway), so you should contact the board again about what evidence they require from you to have your quals approved. That is the 1st step.

 

Does anyone know how these changes effect E.U reg Pods. Say someone from Spain or Belgium do they have meet the same regulations as an Australian reg pod to work in the U.K.?

 

Sorry to necro this post but I was just looking for some clarification. Reading though this it seemed to get sidetracked on Victorian registration for a while so I just wanted to understand:

To become registered in the UK now one must first become an "Accredited Podiatrist which I take to mean a Pod who has gone though the program to attain prescribing rights?

I had been hoping to work in the UK since I started studying. I was told by the agencies to grab at least 1 year of experience in aus first and within that year this stuff happened (doh).

 

Accredited Podiatrists in Australia are run through the A Pod A and dont require you to have prescribing rights just evidence of CPD over a 2 year period I think.

To all, has there been any further info in regards to Aus/NZ pods wanting to go the UK for work? Are the agencies all up to date with the standards required for registration?

Cheers.

 

Hi everyone,

Has anyone got any more info on whether Aus Pods are getting registered in the UK. I have had my application in for 4months now and they have said that I will know either way by Christmas.

I am getting very nervous about being rejected!

I will post again when I get my reply, fingers crossed...

Thank you

 

Hello again,

I have just been approved by the HPC, no dramas, it just took a really long time, 5months. I also only graduated in 2009 so you don't need a lot of experience. Now the dramas of looking for a job in London, it never ending!!

Thanks

 

hello! im an aus pod looking into working i the uk and am confused!!! do we need to have prescribing rights for applications to be accepted?
thanks!

 

I believe the differences in the two post graduate pharmacology courses is the UK course leads to supplementary prescribing and the Australian course qualifies practioners as independent prescribers.

 

Hi does anyone know what the deal is with Aust/ NZ pods applying for registration in the UK?

 

I began applying for registration in the UK last year. It took a good eight months but I did get there. I was required to send further documentation regarding the pharmacology course I did at uni. All I did was contacted the pharmacology lecturer I had and got him to send me the course information pack and the details of what was covered and how the marks were assessed. HPC were happy with that. I am not sure what the go is with prescribing rights in the UK but I assume I would need to do extra study to be able to prescribe.

My advice is don't give up and once you get registered make sure you don't ever let it lapse! It costs too much.