RCN calls for mandatory regulation for healthcare support workers

Published: 19 December 2011

More than 2,500 frontline nurses and healthcare support workers have co-signed a letter to health minister, Earl Howe, asking him to accept an amendment to the Health and Social Care Bill that would ensure mandatory regulation for healthcare support workers.

The amendment, tabled by Baroness Emerton, will be debated by Peers in the House of Lords today. At present the Health and Social Care Bill makes provision for a voluntary register for healthcare support workers, however the RCN believes this does not go far enough and that the register should be mandatory.

RCN Chief Executive & General Secretary, Dr Peter Carter, said:

“Healthcare support workers play an increasingly important nursing role, carrying out a variety of tasks and it is only right that they are adequately trained and equipped with the skills to do so, through regulation. The RCN has consistently stated that mandatory regulation for all nursing staff is vital in ensuring high quality patient services. Anyone who is responsible for delivering care should be regulated and accountable for their actions. Healthcare support workers want to be able to provide their patients with the best possible care, so by bringing in a framework of minimum standards and training requirements, facilitated through regulation, they will be in a better position to do this.

“The Government has a duty of care to patients and we call upon them to accept this amendment as we do not believe that voluntary registration will protect patient safety adequately.”

Notes for Editors

For further information, interviews or illustrations please contact the RCN Media Office on 0207 647 3633, press.office@rcn.org.uk or visit http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/media

Royal College of Nursing (RCN) is the voice of nursing across the UK and is the largest professional union of nursing staff in the world. The RCN promotes the interest of nurses and patients on a wide range of issues and helps shape healthcare policy by working closely with the UK Government and other national and international institutions, trade unions, professional bodies and voluntary organisations.