I propose to take Questions Nos. 211 and 212 together.
The Health and Social Care Professionals Council was established in March 2007 to implement the Health and Social Care Professionals Act 2005. The Act provides for the establishment of a system of statutory registration for twelve health and social care professions including podiatrists. It will apply to the designated professions regardless of whether they work in the public or private sector or are self-employed. It is the first time that fitness to practice procedures will be put in place for these professionals on a statutory basis.
The first registration board to be established under the Council, the Social Workers Registration Board, was established in August 2010 and the Radiographers Registration Board was established in December 2011. At least four additional registration boards are scheduled for establishment in 2012, with subsequent registration boards to be established as soon as possible after that. With regard to the regulation of podiatrists and the establishment of their registration board, it is not envisaged that a registration board for this profession will be established in 2012.
The Medicinal Products (Prescription and Control of Supply) Regulations 2003 place strict controls on the prescribing, supply and administration of medicines, for the purpose of patient protection. In order to create an entitlement for a health profession to supply or administer prescription medicines to patients, it is first necessary for that profession to be subject to a statutory regulatory regime which includes fitness to practice and disciplinary sanctions.
While I am open to making medicines more accessible to patients where safe and appropriate to do so, including permitting the use of medicines by health professions such as podiatrists, statutory registration of podiatrists is a prerequisite to any legislation which would permit a podiatrist to supply and administer prescription medicines to patients. I am aware of developments in the United Kingdom where there is a consultation process underway regarding prescribing rights of podiatrists. However I would point out that podiatrists in the United Kingdom have been subject to a statutory registration system for many years.