Written answers

Wednesday, 11 November 2015

Department of Health

Health Care Professionals

Photo of James BannonJames Bannon (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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125. To ask the Minister for Health his views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding the protection of the title of physiotherapist; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39724/15]

Photo of Leo VaradkarLeo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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I expect that the Physiotherapists Registration Board will make the necessary by-laws to allow it to establish its register early next year in accordance with the Health and Social Care Professionals Act 2005. On this basis, the title of physiotherapistwill be protected for the exclusive use of the board's registrants when the register's 2 year transitional period ends in 2018.

I am currently examining the issue of also protecting the title of physical therapist. I am considering whether, on balance, it would be in the public interest to protect the title of physical therapistunder the Act in order to reduce the potential for confusion in the public mind between the services offered by physiotherapists and those who are not physiotherapists but who are also providing musculoskeletal therapies.

Earlier this year I wrote to a number of relevant organisations regarding my proposal to protect the title and invited them to submit their views. The submissions are now being examined and I expect that I will make a decision on the matter before the end of the year. As you can appreciate there are many factors to consider. However, I can assure the Deputy that my main concern will be to protect the members of the public who are my main responsibility when it comes to any decisions in this regard.

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