Health Professions Council

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Jack Golding

Having been shunted into the HPC I find it difficult to understand we are not more vocal about the position that podiatry finds itself in.Although many of us were unhappy about the whole concept of the HPC most of us thought it would unite the profession and provide more protection for the public. Several years down the line, it is quite obvious that it has done neither of these things. Perhaps someone will explain to me why a profession which successfully introduced surgery into podiatry against all the odds and the dire warning of the medical profession cannot,in the near future, rid itself of this sad organisation whose main raison d'etre seems to be keeping a small army of administrators in work.

 

The cheeky side of me says that the reason that the HPC (and similar bodies worldwide) are going to be around for a while are that they are not there to meet the needs of the profession. Any lobbying by any profession is not going to be given a lot of weight as it will be seen as self-serving. Bureaucrats (love em or hate em) are not stupid and know the context of any self serving lobbying when they formulate advice to Ministers. The only way I can see for it to be changed is if solid evidence (not wishful thinking, anecdotes or sensationalism) can be provided of the harm its doing to the consumer.

 

A mote point, William

>The only way I can see for it to be changed is if solid evidence (not wishful thinking, anecdotes or sensationalism) can be provided of the harm its doing to the consumer.

Who exactly do you report this to? It appears there is no mechanisim. (See correspondence on sister theme). This would imply there is no intention to do anything other than what the Government want to do. Big Borther is not just on the box it seems it seems to be alive and well in democracy.


Cameron


Cameron

 

Hpc

Sorry Jack. We, as a profession, made our own bed (against the strong advice of some) and now we have to lie on it!

Bill

 

jack golding

I really do not believe that professional self interest is incompatible with public protection. Surely the whole point of setting up the HPC was to regulate, set minimun standards for the profession and protect the public.So the legislators must have thought it a good idea that our profession be properly educated why otherwise would they bother? It would seem that in future there will not be an even playing field. Those registered with the HPC will have to undertake regular cpe and be subject to inspection by Care Standards, and for that we will have the privilege of a recognised title. Those outside the register will not be subject to these restrictions and it cannot be right that the government continue to ignore this disparity. Part closure is not working.

 

But the bureaucrats do not see it that way - they see a profession who wants to get rid of or control the competition. They see competiton as a good thing as it keep prices down, therefore benefiting the consumer. As I said above:

I totally agree with you here:

But unless harm to the consumer can be demonstrated by those not doing CPD etc, then its going to be an uphill battle.

I do not disagree with you .... but we just have to understand it from the bureaucrats point of view.

 

Jack Golding

The registered profession have fought many uphill battles in the past and in the
CPSM at least we knew where we stood as a profession.Now we have to contend with individuals who have been grandfathered in teaching and promoting a group of people that we are told will never be registerable, and not be subject to any controls.I have always been for a once and for all inclusive act however we are now in a position where a minority of registrants are undermining the system by teaching and promoting what is in effect podiatry by another name and even the most blinkered bureaucrats will eventually see this must be a nonsense.I have asked the HPC about this problem and have had no firm reply, which leads me to believe that they are considering it.

 

Hpc

Well this seems to me just a repeat of the first registration process my grandmother went through in the 60's.

But I would like to pose a question to Bill and Cameron where do you think I will stand when I finish my top up degree? will I be in no-mans land?

Judith Sullivan

 

Hi Judith

I left ARU in August 2005 and have more to with the programs or the university. So I am unable to assist in this matter

Cameron

 

Hi Judith

Plagued with viruses at the moment so could not give much thought to your question.

As I understand the situation, entry to the ARU conversion program was dependent upon students being registered with HPC i.e grand parented pods. The conversion program was an academic qualification which on completion gave you parity with other podiatry graduates. As part of the conversion program there was a component relating to local anaesthesia and this was separately accredited by HPC (because it contained practical elements). Provided you were successful and passed all the modules then then you were awarded an unclassified degree (an academic qualification) by the university.

Status as a registered pod would not change with the degree award but the practical LA module would prepare the successful candidate(s)to increase their clinical scope of practice.

Cheers
Cameron

 

Hpc

Thank you Cameron yes I have only one year left to complete, and the course has opened up a pandoras box in knowledge and learning. Although I do stuggle (dyslexia rules) (no spell check on your tool bar), I am enjoying, don't know how I practiced before. As I said I will be in a void - HPC registered with a BSc Hon's but not registered. This is not going to cause a problem to me in private practice, my patients have already voted with their feet with a successful bussiness but yet another rift in the profession.

Jack I am still in the opinion it is still early days for the HPC. I myself have been a Health Professional since 1972 in the days we were just taught to diagnose and treat, as with most professions, with no regulations to update. The idea of CPD is good although the quality of courses on the market do vary. I can see your frustration but I am stiving to become informed, updated and educated, do not put us all in the same box.

Judith Sullivan

 

Judith, not sure I understand this. Could you explain?

Mark Russell

 

Hello Judith

If you go on from the foundation degree to a BSc (Hons), then you will be in precisely the same position as any chiro/pod who has gone through the 3/4 year system. I commend you for your studies and sincerely hope that your hard work results in satisfaction. Trouble is, the wider the shore of knowledge, the farther the horizon of learning!

All the best

Bill

 

re degree

Dear All,

I believe that she is alluding to the fact that she will have a Health Care Studies Degree and not a PODIATRY DEGREE.

The NHS requires a degree or equivalent in your chosen profession.

A degree per se is not enough to attain employment in a specfic speciality be it Podiatry Physio OT.

So i believe that she is correct that she will be HPC grandparented but will not have a Degree in Podiatry.

As was stated no problem in Private Practice but a problem should she wish to pursue a career in the NHS.

regards David

 

hpc

David spot on and I can only be an associate member (AChS) of the society not SChS which I am already, but dose not change either after the degree because it is not a reconised course. The degree itself is BSc (Hons) Health Care Practices (Podiatry), and the modules all relivant to podiatry. My son who qualified two years ago says we are studying to a much higher level.

But again it is very early days and I am on the first wave that will be qualifying 2007, so maybe it will be our mission to initiate change, dont know how many are even on the top up degree.

Thank you all for an interesting debate

Jude

 

Just a point of correction Judith, if you have been grandparented by the HPC you can now apply for full membership to the Society.

Mark Russell

 

Mark they only issued me as an associate member ?????? can you verify.

Jude

 

Judith

The membership status for grandparented podiatrists changed last Saturday following the Society's AGM. Contact Elaine Garnett (0845 450 3741 eg@scpod.org) or Tamsyn Hutchins (0845 450 3722 th@scpod.org) for details. You may find your membership is upgraded automatically.

Regards
Mark Russell

 

Hello Mark

A touch of desperation in Society recruitment?

Judith. You can certainly apply for, and almost certainly will be accepted as a full member of the Institute. You can, of course, continue as a full member of the the British Association. There may well be other organisations out there of which I know nothing. However, it's good to know you're popular isn't it?

All the best

Bill

 

Bill

I see no desperation. Quite the reverse.

As far as I can tell, Jude has already decided which professional body she wants to be a member of.

Good luck with all the studies.

GB

 

re desperation

Dear Bill,

This is not desperation on the part of the SCP.

Rather the democratic process taking place.

2 years ago i voted against membership for the grandparented as they achieved this status by filling in a form and not bouncing a cheque for £200.00

Hardly rigorous. Still many bleated loud and long about this gift.

So this time round the responsible ambitious and committed grandparented have shown their future by upgrading their training etc etc.

So i voted in favour this time.

So we now have the motivated pods being able to choose to join the SCP which i hope will be the Foremost professional body with the most motivated and progressive practitioners.

Those grandparented who feel they got nothing of benefit from HPC reg will de register and practice as FHP.

THose practitioners are not the future of the profession of Podiatry and are not who I personally want as memebers of SCP.

regards David

as an aside your lack of affection for the SCP is obvious and i feel not an attractive part of your usually positive and constructive comments on the various forums.

 

Thank boys have emailed the society and await their reply. On a lighter note I leave you all for a few weeks as seeing 'Elvis' the stage play tonight also have some serrious shopping to do in Camden tomorrow, and an essay to hone in the next few weeks.

jude