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Hi all,
Every podiatrist in the UK will have had some experience of the dreaded Health Professions Council (HPC). For those who don't have any experience of this Govt-backed body, the HPC is has been set up to regulate professions allied to medicine. These range from podiatry and physiotherapy to (at the other end of the spectrum) art therapy. One of the HPC's much touted aims is to "protect the public". Currently it's doing this by charging registrants twice as much as the old regulatory body did.

The HPC is looking after "Grandparenting" in the UK. This is the process by which the previously unregistered podiatrist can gain admission onto the register (thereby becoming eligible to work in the NHS). In theory, after May 2005, only the registered can use the titles podiatrist and chiropodist. In practice anyone can treat feet after this date, but they have to use a different title (and Foot Health Professional is a favourite right now).
Another opportunity to close the profession in the UK has been lost, probably due to political expediency.
The HPC will also ensure that Continuing Professional Development (CPD) becomes a feature of every registrant's life. So thats good, although how they are going to do this is unclear at the moment.

Colleagues have argued in the past for our own regulatory body, a General Podiatry Council, and although this would certainly be best for the profession in the UK it would seem that this particular move is further away than ever.
Regards,
DavidH

hi david,
no expert on these things, but then again, it seems neither are the HPC at times We may be chasing a pot of gold, at the end of a rapidly fading rainbow!

Whilst on the hpc and stuff, what is the status of SRCh ? I understand it as defunct and not protected?

kind regards to all

( forum is superb in only 1 week)

Hi Steven,

In the UK State Registration has been superceeded by HPC registration (the same thing really but much more expensive). Without wanting to denigrate former SRCh colleagues, the title SRCh is now meaningless. Some podiatrists place the term "former SRCh" on stationary and Yellow Pages adverts, but in reality I don't think this carries much weight with the average patient.

I know of at least one SMAE-trained podiatrist who is an HPC assessor, so in the eyes of the HPC (read government) the only qualification anyone currently needs to become a podiatrist is HPC-registration. Of course no one can become HPC-reg after July next year without completeing a degree in podiatry or podiatric medicine.

Agree totally about the site. Good one Craig! :) :) :)
Regards,
David