Hi, I'm an Australian Podiatrist planning to travel to the UK to work early next year. I am just getting ready to submit my application for HPC registration, but they have just doubled the application fee! I'm wondering if there is any way I can avoid having to pay this (400 quid translates to a HELL of alot of Aussie dollars).
I have been reading a few of the postings about FHPs. I may have misunderstood, but are you saying that I could avoid registering, save the money, and just practice as a Foot Health Professional instead of a Podiatrist? But would I have to work for myself and just do domicillary work? And what would the money be like in comparison to what you would get as a Podiatrist?
HPC is the equiv of a State Registration Board in Australia. To work as a 'registered podiatrist' in the UK in any capacity, legally
you need to be HPC registered.
As an occupational group
Foot Health Professionals have no association with HPC registered podiatrists, but can legally can provide foot health care to the general public. Unless restricted by law, the range of clinical services is mirrored by both occupational groups.
Podiatry in the UK has not been a closed profession until very recently. Prior to this, an indicative closure policy operated whereby podiatrists who worked for the National Health Service (public employees) had to be State Registered. A large percentage of the UK profession were public employees. In the private sector, registered and non registered podiatrists served the public quite legally. When closure was introduced there was a Grandparenting which incorporated many previously 'non registered' pods and
like their peers, all
registered with the HPC.
Foot health professionals are quite a different occupational group.
If you were to work as a fhp, your scope of practice would need to comply with the legal restrictions as these apply to podiatry in the country. No matter your level of qualification in OZ, you would be prevented from using
local anasthesia and restricted access to prescription drugs because it is illegal in the UK unless you are HPC registered. To the best of my knowledge there is no restriction on orthotics prescription.
You can legally practice as an FHP (or whatever title stikes your fancy) provided that you do not describe yourself as a chiropodist or podiatrist (or variations on that theme).
You cannot carry out any Health Service work and many other areas, eg. working for commercial organisations, will be closed to you.
You will need professional indemnity insurance in any case and cannot use any of the extended list of drugs available to the registered sector.
What you charge, is what you charge!
I am also an Australian Pod with a few questions.
I am heading to the UK at the end of the year. I am in the process of applying for HPC registration. I am a little daunted by the amount of paper work!
I am wondering in there are any Pod's out there who graduated from Curtin Uni in the last 8 years that have successfully applied to the HPC (how did you do it!!!).
As Podiatry at Curtin no longer exists I am having a hard time getting the info I need in terms of units studied, how I was assessed, % of time spent on placement/ prac etc.....I may have kept a clinical log book but it was a long time ago and am not even sure where it is!
>I am a little daunted by the amount of paper work!
Its straight forward just oodles to complete.
I am wondering in there are any Pod's out there who graduated from Curtin Uni in the last 8 years that have successfully applied to the HPC (how did you do it!!!).
Been quite a few.
As Podiatry at Curtin no longer exists I am having a hard time getting the info I need in terms of units studied, how I was assessed, % of time spent on placement/ prac etc.....I may have kept a clinical log book but it was a long time ago and am not even sure where it is!
The Head of Physio School, Tony Wright should be able to help and certainly Curtin University has an obligation to provide information of this sort to its graduates regardless of whether the program is current or not. If you get stuck I can certainly give you most details. It is also fare to say HPC will be sympathetic to graduates from schools which now no longer exist, provided you inform them of the situation.
Thanks for the reply.
I have managed to track someone down from Curtin who can help with some of the info.
Apparently I was given back my "log book" when I graduated. Where that is now - who knows!
I know what hospital placements I had in my final year but cannot remember how much time I spent there. Plus, there were the smaller hospitals and health centres and my memories of those are a bit foggy :)
I graduated in 1996, and last year successfully became registered with the HPC. As Cameron says it isn't difficult paperwork, just masses of it!
I managed to get Beth Hart to supply the Academic details they required just a few weeks before the Dept closed, so was a bit lucky in terms of timing. However, the University does have an obligation to supply you with those details...but I think it cost around $200 - $250 to get them to send them to you. I can post you photocopies of my papers...if it's any help, but the HPC want originals. As for time spent, methods of assesment etc, that will all be in the paperwork that Curtin has to supply as follows, just click on the link:
You'll get 3 -4 pages of these...
As for the Clinical referees, well I'm sure you like myself work with Medical Practitioners, Physio's, Chiro's, Clinical Nurse Managers etc etc...
Do try to remember that once you submit, it takes around 4-6 months and a donation on your part of a couple of hundred pounds.....just "Bite the Bullet", do the required paperwork then you can maintain your registration for a nominal yearly fee. IT IS a lot of trouble..but well worth it if you plan to travel as a Professional.
Then you're able to work in the UK / Ireland / Much of Europe under the equality of qualifications section of the EEU.
Hope this helps...ask any more questions if you have any...
Thanks for the reply Julian.
You are right - the HPC paperwork is not hard but there is tonnes of it!
I am right for the clinical and character references etc. It was the information required from Curtin that has been an issue.
I have found someone from the School of Physio to help (for a fee). I just have no idea about my "log book" - it was a while ago and have no idea where it is!
And because of that am concerned that wat the provide me with my not be enough for the HPC.
I will look at the link you included later on. Thanks again
Cath
I think the person from Curtin has read my email and assumes it needs to be included (ie, because they ask for " % of practical assessment that contributed to the overall course" ).
They want a breakdown of the number of theory and clinical hours by module :(
If they can't provide me with that information there is now chance that I can !
Each year there was a clinical podiatry module and you did 5 modules per semester which equates to 20% was practical. Add to this the practice components of practical biomechanics labs and anatomy etc, and you have overall approx 70: 30 breakdown between theory and practice
The log book represents only one assessment and by itself counts for nothing in podiatry. Some of the Allied Health professions do make use of this for Registration purposes (physio may be one) but it is not mandatory for podiatry.
Well, I AM glad I read this thread.
I will keep paper 'course outlines' and keep my own logbook of work done.
I am a new student at the Uni of Newcastle.
I have got my own placements well in excess of those required.
Hope nobodys minds if I pass this info around on the Uni web.
Carole