Dear Prime Minister...

The Queen’s Speech was devoid of references to reform of healthcare regulation. In 2013, in the wake of the Francis Inquiry, the Prime Minster pledged to “sweep away” the “outdated and inflexible” law governing health regulators.

That call was supported by professional associations, trade unions and the healthcare regulators themselves. The UK Law Commissions subsequently produced a draft bill on reform of healthcare regulation, but it has not secured any parliamentary time.

Mick Armstrong, Chair of the British Dental Association said, “Britain has over a million regulated healthcare practitioners. That regulation is meant to protect the public, but antiquated laws have come at cost, and not just in time and money. It has hurt patients and practitioners, and it needs to change.

“This government needs to make time to fix a broken system of regulation. This isn’t rocket science. The Law Commissions have already produced a draft bill that could represent at least a starting point.