PARLIAMENTARY EARLY DAY MOTION
SELF-REGULATION FOR THE SOCIETY OF CHIROPODISTS AND PODIATRISTS AND OTHER HEALTH PROFESSIONALS (13 December 2000)

That this House notes that the Government intends to regulate 12 health professions, including chiropodists/podiatrists, physiotherapists, occuptional therapists, radiographers, dietitians, speech and language therapists, medical laboratory scientific officers, prosthetists and orthotists, orthoptists, arts therapists, clinical scientists and paramedics, as if they were a single profession; notes that this approach does not take account of the lack of similarity in the qualifications for, and clinical practice of, these professions; believes there should be parity of treatment for all health professions, with self-regulation for chiropodists and podiatrists as well as doctors, nurses, midwives, dentists and others; recalls that at the time the enabling legislation passed through the House of Lords, the Health Minister stated that the Health Bill would 'provide stronger self-regulation' but the Department of Health consultation paper gives no details of how uni-professional input will be secured, and suggests that most matters can be dealt with on a multi-professional basis; believes that commitments made at the time the Health Bill passed through Westminster should be respected; and calls on the Department of Health to work more closely with the Society of Chiropodists and Podiatrists, and other professions concerned, and bring forward new proposals that command greater professional support and will provide better protection for the public.

Sponsored by:
Barbara Follett (Labour)