UK health and social care regulators: who are they and what do they do?
There are 13 organisations in the UK known as health and social care regulators [click here – link to list of 13 organisations]. Each organisation oversees one or more of the health and social care professions by regulating individual professionals across the UK.
These organisations, also known as regulators, were set up to protect the public so that whenever you see a health or social care professional, whether private or in the NHS, you can be sure they meet the standards set by the relevant regulator.
What is registration, and who should be registered?
To practise one of the professions listed below people must be registered with the relevant regulator. If they are not registered and still practise, then they are breaking the law and they may be prosecuted. These registers are made up of only those professionals who have demonstrated that they have met the standards set.
These registers are open to the public. So if you want to check your professional is registered, you can do this either online or by calling the relevant organisation.
How can you find out more?
If you would like to know more about the work of these organisations you can contact them directly, details are listed below.
Alternatively, you can download the leaflet, Which regulator? - a joint publication by health and social care regulators in the UK, which outlines which regulatory body is responsible for monitoring each profession and what regulation means. The leaflet has been produced in 12 languages and a large print version of the English version is also available. Contact details are also provided for all of the organisations.
To download Which regulator? - a joint publication by health and social care regulators in the UK, visit our Which regulator page.
HEALTHCARE
General Chiropractic Council (GCC)
Chiropractors
Tel: 020 7713 5155 or www.gcc-uk.org
General Dental Council (GDC)
Dentists, dental therapists and dental hygienists.
From 2006 will also include dental nurses, dental technicians, clinical dental technicians and orthodontic therapists.
Tel: 020 7887 3800 or www.gdc-uk.org
General Medical Council (GMC)
All doctors
Tel: 0845 357 8001 or www.gmc-uk.org
General Optical Council (GOC)
Opticians
Tel: 020 7580 3898 or www.optical.org
General Osteopathic Council (GosC)
Osteopaths
Tel: 020 7357 6655 or www.osteopathy.org.uk
Health Professions Council (HPC)
Arts therapists, biomedical scientists, chiropodists/ podiatrists, clinical scientists, dieticians, occupational therapists, operating department practitioners, orthoptists, paramedics, physiotherapists, prosthetists and orthotists, radiographers, speech and language therapists.
Tel: 0207 582 0866 or www.hpc-uk.org
Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC)
Nurses, midwives and specialist community public health nurses.
Tel: 020 7333 6622 or www.nmc-uk.org
The Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain (RPSGB)
Pharmacists, pharmacy technicians (voluntary register) and pharmacy premises.
Tel: 020 7735 9141 or www.rpsgb.org
The Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland (PSNI)
Pharmacists and pharmacy premises in Northern Ireland
Tel: 028 9032 6927 or www.psni.org.uk
The Council for Healthcare Regulatory Excellence (CHRE)
It's aim is to protect the public, promote best practice and progress excellence among the nine regulators of healthcare professionals listed above
www.Chre.org.uk
SOCIAL CARE
Care Council for Wales (CCW)
Social care workforce (Wales only) Qualified social workers, child care managers/ workers, adult residential managers/ care workers, domiciliary care managers/ workers and social work students on approved degree courses in Wales.
Tel: 0845 0700 399 or www.ccwales.org.uk
The General Social Care Council (GSCC)
Social Care workers (England only), Qualified social workers.
Tel: 020 7397 5100 or www.gscc.org.uk
Minicom: 020 7397 5103
Northern Ireland Social Care Council (NISCC)
Social care workforce (Northern Ireland only) Qualified social workers, team leaders and all care staff in residential childcare, heads of residential homes, heads of day care facilities and social work students.
Tel: 02890 417600 or www.niscc.info
Textphone: 02890 239340
Scottish Social Services Council(SSSC)
Social care workforce (Scotland only) Qualified social workers, care commission officers, residential child care workers, and social work students.
Tel: 0845 60 30 891 or www.sssc.uk.com