Health and Care Professions Council

[Mark Russell]

Hello

I am a UK based podiatrist and have been involved in a legal case with the HCPC regarding Protected Titles, which will conclude on 21 May 2015. The case relates to an alleged misuse of title offence and one aspect of the proceedings will be of interest to UK registered physiotherapists. All the professions regulated by the HCPC have been under the impression that the titles used by health professionals such as physiotherapist, podiatrist, social worker etc., were 'protected' and that it was an offence to use the title unless concurrent registration was held with the HCPC. We now know that it is only an offence if there is intent to deceive - it is not an offence to use a title if there is no intent to deceive, thus someone can legally use the title physiotherapist providing why make it clear that they are not registered - e.g. Lapsed/Non HCPC Registered Physiotherapist - is perfectly acceptable.

I'm not sure if unregistered/unregulated practitioners are an issue in private practice to the same extent as they are in podiatry. My primary issue with the HCPC relates to safeguarding the public when a registrant is struck off for serious misconduct/competence failings and is legally able to continue in private practice under an unprotected title - a situation now compounded since the admission that there is no such protection.

Would be interested to hear views from UK physios as to the effectiveness of the current regulatory regime under the HCPC and whether you were aware of the issues with titles. Ive attached a recent paper on the case up to June 2014.

Kind regards

Mark Russell

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