HPC launches third Council elections

08/01/2007

The Health Professions Council is holding elections this year for three of the thirteen registrant professions it regulates: paramedics, biomedical scientists and chiropodists/podiatrists.

The Council of the HPC is responsible for developing strategies and policies and consists of 26 members (made up of one representative from each of the professions regulated and 13 lay members) and  a President . Registrant members for paramedics, biomedical scientists and chiropodists/podiatrists will stand down in July 2007; current Council members for these professions are eligible to seek re-election.

Registrants wishing to stand for election as a Council member will need to be nominated by six fellow health professionals (i.e. from the same profession).  Nomination forms and further information on the election scheme will be sent to around 48,000 registrants from the paramedic, biomedical scientist and chiropody/podiatry parts of the Register in mid February 2007. All HPC registrants from these three professions who work or live in any of the four home countries of the United Kingdom and who are on the HPC Register on Friday 2 March 2007 are eligible to stand for election.

The election itself will take place in the spring of this year and is being run by the Electoral Reform Services on behalf of the HPC. The results will be posted on the HPC website in early July 2007 with the new Council expected to sit for the first time on Monday 9 July 2007, at Park House in London. 

Commenting on the forthcoming election, President Dr Anna van der Gaag said;

“I would like to encourage as many people as possible from the three eligible professions to consider standing for election to the Council. Council members play a vital role in the strategic direction of the HPC and therefore fulfilling our primary function of protecting the public. It is a rewarding and fulfilling position to hold.”

Health professionals interested in nominating an individual or standing for election are encouraged to look at the HPC website for information and for the full election scheme rules:  www.hpc-uk.org/aboutus/council/elections/

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Notes to Editors:

1. For further information about the election process see the HPC website:
             www.hpc-uk.org/aboutus/council/elections/

2. For further information about the elections please contact Niamh O’Sullivan on 020 7840 9711 or email niamh.osullivan@hpc-uk.org 

3.   The Health Professions Council is an independent, UK-wide health regulator set    up by the Health Professions Order (2001).  The HPC keeps a register for thirteen different health professions and only  registers people who meet the standards it sets for their training, professional skills, behaviour and health. The HPC will take action against people who do not meet these standards or who use a protected title illegally.

4. The HPC currently regulates the following thirteen professions. Each of these professions has one or more ‘protected titles’. Anyone who uses one of these titles must register with the HPC. To see the full list of protected titles please see:
www.hpc-uk.org/aboutregistration/protectedtitles/

• Arts therapists
• Biomedical scientists
• Chiropodists and podiatrists
• Clinical scientists
• Dietitians
• Occupational therapists
• Operating department practitioners
• Orthoptists
• Paramedics
• Physiotherapists
• Prosthetists and orthotists
• Radiographers
• Speech and language therapists

victoria nash
020 7840 9784