Vol. 563 No. 4
394 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Health and Children if the proposed legislation on the regulation of health and social care professionals will allow the Irish Society of Chartered Physiotherapists to acquire exclusive use of the titles physical therapy and physical therapist; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7652/03]
487 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Health and Children when it is expected that the Health and Social Care Professionals Regulatory Bill will be published; if his attention has been drawn to concerns expressed by the Irish Association of Physical Therapists that the use of the term physical therapist may be restricted to members of another organisation, the Irish Society of Chartered Physiotherapists; the steps being taken to address the concerns of the association; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8145/03]
488 Ms McManus asked the Minister for Health and Children if he has received correspondence from the Irish Association of Physical Therapists regarding the issue of the registration of physical therapists; his views in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8146/03]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 394, 487 and 488 together.
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 health and social care professions, including physiotherapy.
The heads of a Bill establishing this system of statutory registration for health and social care professionals have been approved by Government and submitted to the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel for drafting a Bill based on the proposals outlined in the heads. As detailed in the health strategy, the target date for the introduction of this legislation is 2003.
Under these proposals, it is intended to protect the title of physiotherapist, that is, only those professionals registered with the registration board for physiotherapists will be legally entitled to use the title, "Physiotherapist".
It it also proposed that 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 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.
In drafting the legislation, further advice and examination will be required of the many complex legal, competition and public interest issues that arise under the Bill, including in relation to protection of title.
I have received correspondence from the Irish Association of Physical Therapists and representatives of this association met with officials of my Department on 21 March last to discuss their concerns.
