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Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 4 Feb 2003

Vol. 560 No. 3

Written Answers. - Registration of Health Professionals.

Pat Breen

Question:

336 Mr. P. Breen asked the Minister for Health and Children if physiotherapy and physical therapy titles are protected by the new regulation under the one heading in order that the public can be both protected and guaranteed of getting the best possible standard of treatment when needed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2590/03]

Action 105 of the health strategy commits my Department to strengthening and expanding provisions for statutory registration of health professionals. In this context legislation is being prepared to establish a system of statutory registration for 14 health and social care professions, including physiotherapy.

Under these proposals, the title of "physiotherapist" will be protected, i.e. only those professionals registered with the registration board for physiotherapists will be legally entitled to use the title "physiotherapist". This will represent a significant improvement on the existing legal position, where currently there is no impediment to a person in private practice describing themselves as a physiotherapist, irrespective of their qualification level.

It will be an offence under the proposed legislation for an unregistered person either to use a protected title or to act in a manner which implies that they are entitled to use a protected title. In such circumstances it will be a matter for the proposed regulatory authority for health and social care professionals to investigate any complaint that a person is misrepresenting themselves in any of these respects.

It will also be the responsibility of the regulatory authority to ensure that members of the public are properly informed and guided that a registered professional providing a service is suitably qualified and competent. It will of course remain the responsibility of every individual practitioner providing health care services to the public to ensure that they are trained and qualified to the level required to work safely within their area of competence.
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