Wednesday 11th February 2004 00:01 

AURE Urges European Parliament to Build on Health Safeguards 

The Alliance of UK Health Regulators in Europe (AURE) is calling on MEPs to ensure patient safety is protected when the European Parliament considers the draft Directive on the Mutual Recognition of Professional Qualifications this Wednesday (11 February). 

Last November, the European Parliament's Legal Affairs Committee amended the Commission's original proposal to reflect concerns that had been raised by AURE. 

The original draft Directive would have allowed healthcare professionals from any EU country to work for up to four months per year, every year, in the UK, without being registered with a UK regulator. In practice, this would have meant that if there was a problem with the care a person received, the UK regulators would have no powers to take action against the professional in question. There would also be no means of preventing the same problem from happening again with another patient. 

The Legal Affairs Committee's November vote changed the text to ensure that all healthcare professionals may be required to register with the relevant regulatory body, in whichever state they were working. This and other amendments must now be accepted by the European Parliament to enshrine them in the Directive. 

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

"We welcomed the Legal Affairs Committee's vote to require healthcare professionals to register in a host Member State in order for them to practise and also to ensure the exchange of information between Member States about the fitness to practise of individual professionals.” 

“We are now urging MEPs to ensure that the Legal Affairs Committee's commitments on patient safety are maintained and strengthened when they vote in the plenary on 11 February.” 

AURE is seeking some modifications to the votes of the Legal Affairs Committee, to ensure that the safeguards for public protection are watertight. 

Chief Executive and Registrar of the General Chiropractic Council, Margaret Coats said: 

“The current proposal for just one committee to advise on every profession, from accountancy to chiropractic, would not allow health issues to be dealt with effectively. We are therefore urging MEPs to build on the commitments of the Legal Affairs Committee and vote in favour of an effective sub-committee to advise the European Commission on health and social care issues”. 

“EU citizens expect health issues to be given focused and informed consideration and only a separate health committee will guarantee that.” 

Jonathan Asbridge, President, NMC, said: 

“Patients have the right to expect that they are protected by the regulatory system regardless of whether the healthcare professional treating them is in the country permanently or temporarily. We urge MEPs to endorse the vote of the Legal Affairs Committee and ensure that public protection safeguards are maintained.” 

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