UK Health Regulators Highlight Concerns on Accession

The Alliance of UK Health Regulators on Europe (AURE) today highlighted their concerns that, with accession only two weeks away, the European Commission has still to confirm whether all of the new Member States are now compliant with the minimum training requirements for doctors, nurses and dentists as set out in EC Directives.

President of the GMC and AURE Member, Sir Graeme Catto said:

"There is still uncertainty as to which of the new States have met the EU's minimum training requirements and which have not. As the UK bodies responsible for the registration and regulation of health professionals wishing to practise in the UK, we require urgent clarification of the position. While the Commission has undertaken to provide us with this information as soon as possible, we are now only a fortnight away from accession.

The Commission has also failed to provide a list of all the regulatory authorities operating in the accession states and has merely advised us to contact the various national ministries of health. This lack of clear information from the Commission places a strain on the UK regulators and on our ability to establish a migrant professional's fitness to practise, particularly if they arrive from a State that has not met the minimum requirements".

Margaret Coats, Chief Executive & Registrar of the GCC said:

"Although the system of statutory regulation is well established in the UK, this is not the case in all of the accession States, particularly for the chiropractic, osteopathic and social care professions.

As a consequence, it may be impossible for some UK regulators to establish the fitness to practise or current good standing of migrant professionals from those States prior to registering them for practice in the UK.

Representatives from AURE are due to meet with Health Minister John Hutton MP shortly to discuss their concerns.

Ends

For further information and interviews with the Alliance spokespeople contact: Matt Ball , Convenor of AURE, on 020 7344 4750 or mobile 07909 992 807

Notes to editors:

1. The membership of the Alliance (AURE) is: General Medical Council, General Dental Council, General Optical Council, General Osteopathic Council, General Chiropractic Council, Health Professions Council, Nursing and Midwifery Council, Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain, General Social Care Council and the Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland.

2. These organisations are statutory bodies that exist to regulate those healthcare professionals who operate in these areas.

3. The accession states are: Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia. The A10 will become full Members of the EU on 1st May 2004.

4. Further information can be found at www.aure.org.uk