Dan Neville
Ceist:641 Mr. Neville asked the Minister for Health and Children the measures for quality assurance of State physiotherapists here in view of concerns expressed in correspondence (details supplied). [1283/03]
Written Answers. - Physiotherapy Service.
Michael Noonan
Ceist:642 Mr. Noonan asked the Minister for Health and Children if his attention has been drawn to a campaign by the Irish Society of Chartered Physiotherapists to give legal protection to the titles of physiotherapists and physical therapists and to the fact that the society is conducting this campaign to ensure that persons with minimal qualifications may not use these titles to the detriment of patients in their care; the steps he intends taking to give the legal protection requested; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1289/03]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 641 and 642 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 14 health and social care professions, including physiotherapy. Under these proposals, which have been approved by Government, a registration board will be established for each profession which will be responsible, inter alia, for establishing and maintaining a register of qualified practitioners and setting standards of education and training.
Under these proposals, the title of physiotherapist will be protected, that is, 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. This situation does not arise in the case of those employed or working on behalf of the public health service where the title of physiotherapist refers only to those who meet the minimum qualification level for entry into the profession. This measure currently ensures quality assurance for State physiotherapists.
As far as the request of the Irish Society of Chartered Physiotherapists is concerned, 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 he or she is entitled to use a protected title. In such circumstances it will be a matter for the pro posed 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 he or she is trained and qualified to the level required to work safely within his or her area of competence.