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AURE
Welcomes European Summit on Regulating Health Professionals 11
October 2005 The Alliance of UK Health
Regulators on Europe (AURE) welcomes the ‘Health Professionals Crossing
Borders’ conference, due to take place in Edinburgh on October 13–14. The summit, which will
include representatives from the vast majority of EU countries, is due to
examine proposals, which aim to improve patient safety by introducing
enhanced measures of information exchange between countries, including a
common European Certificate of Good Standing.
This certificate would
enable countries where health professionals go to practise to have access
to current, relevant information in a standard format about the
registration status of an individual and any restrictions on their
practice in their home country. The conference is also
discussing the possibility of EU Member States taking a more proactive
approach to information sharing in cases where disciplinary action has
been taken against a healthcare professional.
The aim is to ensure that information sharing provisions in
European legislation function effectively in practice, such as those in
the new Directive on Recognition of Professional Qualifications. Professor Sir Graeme
Catto, President of the General Medical Council (GMC), said: “As a member of AURE, the GMC sees this conference
as a timely intervention in the project of improving levels of patient
safety in Europe. Doctors are
moving across European borders in ever-increasing numbers. The vast
majority are competent and conscientious professionals who will do a good
job. But public protection demands that we have systems in place to
identify the small minority who may present a risk to patients and prevent
them from taking up practice. In
Scotland, attention has focused recently on health authorities relying on
European doctors flying in to provide out-of-hours cover. In this context we have to get the systems right for
information exchange between European nations.
We welcome increased mobility for the medical profession but we
also have to ensure no discrepancies between levels of regulation for UK
registered doctors and their European colleagues.” Mr Hew Mathewson,
President of the General Dental Council, who will be addressing the
conference, said: “The GDC is most encouraged by this pan-European
initiative which aims to address the need for active information sharing
amongst European healthcare regulators on a healthcare professional's
fitness to practise. Delegates at the conference will develop
recommendations on standard documentation for use across Europe and on ways
for healthcare regulators to work together proactively. Improved exchange
of information amongst European healthcare professionals would strengthen
mechanisms to ensure the free movement of healthcare professionals within
Europe as well as provide important checks to safeguard patients. The GDC
is very pleased to be involved in the
development of these guidelines which are
of great significance for patients throughout Europe.” Mr
Nigel Clarke, Chairman of the General Osteopathic Council (GOsC), said: “Patient
Safety is no longer just a national issue but of increasing European and
international concern. This
is particularly important for those health and social care professions,
such as osteopathy, which are only regulated in some countries.
The summit provides a welcome opportunity for closer cooperation
with our European partners. The
GOsC wants to ensure that the public should be confident they will receive
high standards of healthcare wherever they seek treatment in Europe.” For further information and interviews with the
Alliance spokespeople please contact: Richard Marchant, Policy Advisor, AURE on +44 20
7189 5024 or Cathy Irving, Acting Convenor, AURE, on +44 20 7189 5430 Notes to editors:
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