In a written statement published by Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ben Gummer MP, said that the Government recognises the “need for immediate reform in this area”, but did not offer any explicit commitments to give the matter parliamentary time.
The Law Commission’s Draft Bill Regulation of Health and Social Care Professionals was published in April, 2014, but did not appear in the 2014 or 2015 Queen’s Speech.
The BDA has been a leading proponent of radical action on out of date, over complicated and expensive healthcare regulation, and has supported reform proposals from the UK Law Commissions and the Professional Standards Authority (PSA).
BDA Chair Mick Armstrong said:
“It’s good to see warm words on regulatory reform, but what we really need is a timetable.
“Over one million regulated healthcare professionals remain saddled with antique laws that are unfit for purpose. That’s not a controversial view, it’s the shared position across healthcare. Dentists in particular are burdened by an expensive and ineffective regulator badly in need of reform.
“We’re pleased government is on the same page, and welcome the commitment to build on the PSA’s work. Rethinking Regulation got it absolutely right in saying that regulators need to focus on the fundamentals of regulation. That means protecting patients, building firm foundations, not succumbing to inexorable mission creep.
“Ministers must appreciate that every day the current failed framework remains in place hurts patients and practitioners.”