GMC begins work to deliver Medical Licensing Assessment

The General Medical Council (GMC) has approved the initial model for a two-part Medical Licensing Assessment (MLA) that will provide more consistency in the ways doctors enter UK practice.
GMC consults on plans for medical licensing assessment

The GMC is making plans for a medical licensing assessment (MLA) that will provide a single route to the medical register for all doctors who wish to practise in the UK.

The proposals aim to address the current variation in arrangements for medical students across the country and those wishing to join the register from outside the UK.

Response to the consultation on the draft Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposure) Regulations 2018

This document summarises responses to a DH consultation on transposing EU directives on protection against the dangers arising from medical exposure to radiation.

Single Oversight Framework (SOF): 2017/18 version

NHS improvement has updated the Single Oversight Framework  to reflect changes in national policy priorities and its approach to provider oversight.

Regulation of MAP roles - have your say

The Department of Health is seeking views on the regulation of four medical associate profession (MAP) roles in the UK.

• Physician Associate (PA)
• Physicians’ Assistant (Anaesthesia) (PA(A))
• Surgical Care Practitioner (SCP)
• Advanced Critical Care Practitioner (ACCP).

Complete its short survey by 13 December 2017 to ensure that your views are represented.  

General Data Protection Regulation - will you be ready?

From 25 May 2018, all health organisations and arm's-length bodies will need to demonstrate compliance with new General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) requirements. GDPR will replace the Data Protection Directive (1995).

Employers are encouraged to plan ahead for the operational changes and consider how they will raise awareness of the new requirements and evidence they meet them. This will include:

• Planning and resourcing the appointment of a data protection officer whose job description is compliant with GDPR requirements.
• Revising information governance and related policies, addressing accountability, data protection officer reporting arrangements and statutory reporting requirements.
• Creating an action/project plan which includes a set of measures to meet the requirements, ideally endorsed by the board.

A seminar on 16 January 2018 in London and 18 January 2018 in Manchester will provide an overview of the GDPR and of the Data Protection Bill insofar as it relates to the processing of personal data within the health and social care context and incorporates and supplements the GDPR.

Promoting professionalism, reforming regulation

A paper for consultation from the Department of Health.  It considers what reforms are needed across the UK healthcare regulatory system in order to support workforce development while maximising public protection in a more efficient way.

Largest trusts could pay £1m annual fee to CQC

New fees consultation recommends 300 per cent increase in CQC fees for largest trusts

Three quarters of trusts would see a reduction in CQC costs

Regulator also proposes GP fees reflect patient list size

The largest trusts in the NHS face paying more than £1m pounds a year to the Care Quality Commission under new fee proposals from the regulator.

To obtain this HSJ article please contact libraryw@uhcw.nhs.uk.  

See also the CQC consultation on its proposed changes to regulatory fees.

Response to second consultation on the next phase of regulation

The CQC has published its response to its second set of proposals that aim to simplify and strengthen the way we regulate health and social care in England.

Consultation on nursing associate regulation now open

The Department of Health has launched a new consultation seeking views of employers about how nursing associates should be regulated.

Responses will feed in to changes of the Nursing and Midwifery Order 2001, which sets out the Nursing and Midwifery Council’s (NMC) powers and duties. The order needs to be amended for the NMC to effectively regulate the nursing associate profession.

The consultation, launched on Monday 16 October, is open until 26 December 2017. 

Care Quality Commission regulating health and social care

This report from the National Audit Office concludes that the Care Quality Commission has improved as an organisation, but now needs to overcome some persistent issues with the timeliness of some of its regulation activities if it is to sustain further improvement.

The Regulation of Medical Associate Professions in the UK

This DH consultation seeks views on the regulation of medical associate professions in the UK, including physician associates, physicians’ assistants, surgical care practitioners and advanced critical care practitioners. The closing date for comments is 22 December 2017.

Clinical physiologists to be included on AHCS register

The Academy for Healthcare Science (AHCS) register has been extended to include clinical physiologists following endorsement from the Professional Standards Authority for health and social care (PSA).

Regulating clinical trials

This briefing from the Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology describes the new EU Clinical Trial Regulation and the timetable for its implementation and examines its likely impact on the regulation of clinical trials in the UK post-Brexit.

Professional regulation in health and social care

This House of Commons Library briefing describes the main functions of the UK’s health and social care professional regulators and outlines some of the prominent debates surrounding this area of policy and the case for reform.

'Major' safety fears over lack of regulation for advanced nurses

The lack of regulation of advanced nursing is a “major concern for public protection”, HSJ has been told.

The chair of the Association of Advanced Practice Educators, a network of 37 universities that train staff in advanced patient care, said some nurses who were dismissed from university courses for failing to meet standards continue to call themselves advanced nurses and remain in their jobs.

To request full article libraryw@uhcw.nhs.uk

Accountable care models contract: proposed changes to regulations

The Department of Health is seeking views on changes to the regulations on the running of an NHS standard contract (accountable care models).

The development of the Accountable Care Organisations contract has identified some necessary changes to regulation. This is largely to ensure that current rules continue to apply to the new contract, and the organisations using it.

Updates to the Single Oversight Framework: share your views

NHS Improvement is updating the Single Oversight Framework (SOF) to reflect feedback, changes in national policy priorities and developments in their oversight approach.

Tell them what you think of our proposed updates and whether they are clear, reasonable and practicable.

Regulations on medical exposure to ionising radiation

This consultation from the Department of Health seeks views on proposed regulations on safety standards for protection against the dangers from medical exposure to ionising radiation.  This consultation closes on 31 July 2017.

Well-led framework

As part of NHS Improvement's commitment to simplifying its regulatory approaches, they've worked closely with the the Care Quality Commission (CQC) to bring together their respective approaches resulting a fully joint well-led framework structured around eight key lines of enquiry.

The new framework maintains focus on strong integrated governance and leadership across quality, finance and operations, and in line with the changing operating environment, increases emphasis on organisational culture, improvement and system working.

CQC - tell us your views on our next phase of regulation

The CQC is consulting on a further set of proposals which will help shape our next phase of regulation of health and social care in England.

For the next eight weeks, anyone with an interest is encouraged to have their say.

The proposals include:

• Changes to the regulation of primary medical services such as GPs and dentists and adult social care services such as care homes and home-care services.
• This includes the frequency and intensity of our inspections and how we monitor, provide and gather intelligence.
• Improvements to the structure of registration and our definition of ‘registered providers’.
• Further information on how we'll monitor, inspect and rate new models of care and large or complex providers.