Closed Consultations
Consultation on the Good Scientific Practice standards
The Academy for Healthcare Science is consulting on its Good Scientific Practice standards, the consultation document can be viewed here.
You can respond to this consultation at any time between 30th September and 21st October 2019, using the following link:
https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/2NMF8N6
We would welcome your views on the proposed changes.
Health Research Authority Consultation on Research Transparency
The HRA have launched a consultation on Research Transparency and how this can be improved. This consultation is open between 17 June and 6 September 2019.
Background
The House of Commons Science and Technology Committee published a report in October 2018 on clinical trials transparency as part of an enquiry into research integrity. You can view the report here.
The concerns which were raised include:
- sponsors failing to register clinical trials
- sponsors failing to update trials registers when studies are finished
- failure to present research results which are accessible to the public
- the erosion of public trust in medicine from failures in clinical trials transparency
The Committee recommended that the HRA should make changes so that it can improve research transparency in the UK.
Response
In response, the HRA formed The Research Transparency Strategy Group.
The Research Transparency Strategy Group have produced a set of plans and proposals which are described here.
These proposals include changes to the process of obtaining Research Ethics Committee approval. As such, it is essential that all stakeholders in health and social care research contribute to the consultation.
Consultation
The proposals are open for consultation and the HRA requests input from the health and social care research community and members of the public. Read more here.
You can also follow or contribute to discussions on Twitter under the hashtag #MakeItPublic
The consultation opened on 17 June and closed on 6 September 2019.
Consultation on the academy for advancing practice
Health Education England (HEE) is consulting on different standards for the establishment of its new academy for advancing practice.
The academy, which is being set up to standardise routes into advanced clinical practice (ACP), will recognise registered health and care practitioners who demonstrate the capabilities set out in the ACP or consultant practitioner framework. It will also take on responsibility for accrediting ACP education programmes.
HEE is consulting on the three documents below, and you can respond to each survey on the HEE website, by using the links.
- The operating framework – this document sets out the operating model, it explains the purpose, role and functions of the academy.
- The standards for education and training – this document sets out the requirements for a programme to be accredited by the academy.
- The standard for the equivalence route – this document sets out how an individual practitioner is expected to engage in, demonstrate and evidence their learning and development to the academy.
Developing a patient safety strategy for the NHS
NHS Improvement are developing proposals for a new national patient safety strategy to support the NHS to be the safest healthcare system in the world.
The strategy is being developed alongside the NHS Long Term Plan and will be relevant to all parts of the NHS, be that physical or mental health care, in or out of hospital and primary care.
Why They Are Consulting
To make sure the strategy works for patients, NHS staff and providers, NHSI are consulting on their proposals. Your opinions will help shape and refine the final version of their national patient safety strategy, which will be published in Spring 2019.
To be able to answer the consultation questions you will first need to download and read Developing a patient safety strategy for the NHS consultation document. You can choose to answer all the questions or only the ones that interest you, but please do read all sections of this document first.
An easy read version of the consultation document and questions will be available on https://engage.improvement.nhs.uk/policy-strategy-and-delivery-management/patient-safety-strategy/ soon.
If you would like your comments to form part of the Academy’s One Voice response, please submit your comments to admin@ahcs.ac.uk no later than 1st February, 2019.
Consultation closes 15th February, 2019.
Consultation on Standards for prescribing
The Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) is seeking views on proposed changes to the Standards for prescribing.
The Standards for prescribers have two purposes and so are set out in two parts.
- The standards for education providers set out the processes and procedures that an education provider delivering training in prescribing must have in place in order to deliver the training safely and effectively.
- The standards for all prescribers set out the knowledge, understanding and skills that a registrant must have when they complete their prescribing training and which they must continue to meet once in practice.
These standards, therefore, set out safe and effective prescribing practice. They are the threshold standards we consider necessary to protect members of the public. They are also the standards we use to assess and approve education and training programmes in prescribing.
The HCPC’s current Standards for prescribing were published in August 2013. Since this time, we have seen a number of important changes in non-medical prescribing practice and regulation.
Click here to Download the consultation document, which sets out the background to the review and our consultation questions.
The closing date for responses is Friday 4 January 2019
The Academy for Healthcare Science submitted the following response:
“AHCS Council & Board have reviewed this consultation and have no major comments to feedback from healthcare scientists.
We are supportive of the NHSE Medication Management project to allow administration of medicines by Clinical Scientists and Biomedical Scientists in extended roles. Prescribing will be a much later phase of this programme (if it happens at all) so we would suggest that the document refers to “prescribing and administration of medicines” rather than just prescribing.”
Consultation on HCPC registration fees
HCPC are consulting on proposals to increase registration fees. If adopted, the changes would be effective from 1 October 2019 and existing registrants would pay the new renewal fee when their profession next renews its registration.
The increases are needed to support HCPC’s new strategic focus of promoting professionalism and preventing fitness to practise issues from arising. HCPC also need to continue to invest in the services offered to registrants. The consultation takes place in the context of keeping pace with the cost of inflation and the impact on their operations and income when social workers in England transfer to Social Work England in 2019.
Click here to read more.
Click here to read the joint Open Letter.
Consultation on Standards for prescribing
The Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) is seeking views on proposed changes to the Standards for prescribing.
The Standards for prescribers have two purposes and so are set out in two parts.
- The standards for education providers set out the processes and procedures that an education provider delivering training in prescribing must have in place in order to deliver the training safely and effectively.
- The standards for all prescribers set out the knowledge, understanding and skills that a registrant must have when they complete their prescribing training and which they must continue to meet once in practice.
These standards, therefore, set out safe and effective prescribing practice. They are the threshold standards we consider necessary to protect members of the public. They are also the standards we use to assess and approve education and training programmes in prescribing.
The HCPC’s current Standards for prescribing were published in August 2013. Since this time, we have seen a number of important changes in non-medical prescribing practice and regulation.
The consultation is now open. Download the consultation document, which sets out the background to the review and our consultation questions.
If you would like your comments to be included in the Academy for Healthcare’s One Voice response, please submit your comments to admin@ahcs.ac.uk no later than Friday 7th December, 2018.
The closing date for responses is Friday 4 January 2019.
CPD Joint Position Statement Review Group
The Interprofessional CPD and Lifelong learning UK Working Group has produced a draft Joint CPD Statement Version 5 for consultation.
If you would like your comments to be included in a One Voice response, please email admin@ahcs.ac.uk no later than 10th September, 2018.
The consultation deadline is 20th September 2018.
Click here to read the AHCS One Voice Response.
CPD Joint Position Statement Review Group
The Interprofessional CPD and Lifelong learning UK Working Group has produced a draft Joint CPD Statement Version 5 for consultation.
If you would like your comments to be included in a One Voice response, please email admin@ahcs.ac.uk no later than 10th September, 2018.
The consultation deadline is 20th September 2018.
Click here to read the AHCS One Voice Response.
Consultation on the revised Indicative Sanctions Policy
The Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) is seeking views on a revised version of our Indicative Sanctions Policy.
The Indicative Sanctions Policy sets out the principles Practice Committee Panels should consider when deciding what, if any, sanction should be applied in fitness to practise cases. It aims to ensure that decisions are fair, consistent and transparent.
The Policy was first published in 2004, and has been kept up-to date when required. We have now taken the opportunity to undertake a more comprehensive review of the existing Policy. This consultation seeks views on these changes.
Click here to read the AHCS One Voice Response
NHS/PHE Workforce Strategy Consultation
NHS and Public Health England are seeking views from across the Country to inform the Workforce Strategy that will be published in July 2018. The Strategy has been developed by the whole health and care system.
Click here to read the Academy’s submitted response.
Closed March 23rd 2018
Consultation – Promoting Professionalism, Reforming Regulation
The Government has published a consultation on “Promoting professionalism, reforming regulation” – see full details on the link above.
Click here to read the Academy’s submitted response.
Closed 23rd January 2018
The regulation of medical associate professions in the UK
The DoH is seeking views on the regulation of medical associate professions (MAPs) in the UK. See full details on the link above.
Closed 22nd December 2017
Call for evidence and briefing note: EEA-workers in the UK labour market
In response to this consultation, RSB are looking to collate evidence from our members, in the form of career experience case studies.
Closed 27 October 2017
Select Committee Consultation on Brexit
The House of Commons Select Committee at Westminster has asked RCPath for their views on the regulatory arrangements needed to guarantee safe and effective supply of medicines, medical devices and products post-Brexit.
Closed 23rd October 2017
Algorithms in decision-making inquiry
Science and Technology Committee inquiry into the increasing use of algorithms in public and business decision making.
Closed 20 October 2017
Consultation on proposed Standards of Proficiency for Healthcare Science Assistants
What are we consulting on? One of the key objectives of the Academy for Healthcare Science is to provide protection and assurance to the public. We operate an Accredited register for the Healthcare Science workforce not covered by statutory regulation….
Research Integrity
Science and Technology Committee inquiry on fraud, misconduct and mistakes in research.
Closed 5 October 2017
Genomics and genome editing in the NHS inquiry
Science and Technology Committee inquiry into the mainstreaming of genomic medicine in the NHS.
Closed 13 October 2017
BBSRC: Invitation to comment – strategy for UK biotechnology and biological sciences
BBSRC is inviting comment on the future strategy from UK biotechnology and biological sciences.
Closed 11 October 2017
Update – Good Scientific Practice Consultation
As advertised in the last edition of Vox, the Academy has established a timetable for the review of Good Scientific Practice in 2017. The review will take account of recent developments in science and health care, including for example the…
Publication of the Medical Illustrators Standards consultation response
As part of the transition of Medical Illustrators to the Academy for Healthcare Science Regulation framework we ran a consultation on the proposed standards. We are very grateful to all those that responded to help us to further develop…
HCPC consultation on revised SETs and supporting guidance
The Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) is seeking views on draft revised standards of education and training (SETs) and supporting guidance. Documentation can be viewed here. The Academy will be co-ordinating a response to this consultation. If you have…
The Academy for Healthcare Science Regulation Council Consultation
What are we consulting on? One of the key objectives of the Academy for Healthcare Science Regulation Council is to provide protection and assurance to the public. We operate an Accredited register for the Healthcare Science workforce not covered by…
Draft Clinical Guideline on Increasing the uptake of HIV testing for consultation
NICE are updating a Clinical Guideline on Increasing the uptake of HIV testing among people at higher risk of exposure and are currently consulting on the draft version. You are invited to comment on the draft clinical guideline: Full Version: https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/GID-PHG91/documents/draft-guideline…
Letter from Dr Keith Ison Head of Medical Physics Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust Thank you for your contributions on behalf of the Shelford Group to the Select Committee consultation on the effects of EU regulation on…
Publication of the HSSR Standards of Proficiency consultation response
The publication of the Higher Specialist Scientist Register (HSSR) standards of proficiency consultation response is now available. Overall the response to the consultation was supportive of the proposed Standards of Proficiency (SoPs). This is illustrated by the percentage of…
Have your say on HCPC registration fee consultation
The Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) is consulting on proposals to increase the fees they charge for registration. They are proposing a £10 increase (an increase of 12.5%) to the annual renewal fee. This increases the renewal fee from £80 to £90….