Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

393. To ask the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the serious concerns raised by organisations (details supplied) regarding CORU registration for a profession that will allow persons without a bachelors or masters degree in the profession to register as a practitioner; his views on the fact that the registration process as it stands leaves Ireland out of step with other EU states in terms of regulating practitioners in this field to protect patient safety; if he will act to ensure that these concerns are addressed and only suitably qualified practitioners will be allowed register; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29438/16]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I am aware of the concerns expressed by certain interested parties. I can confirm there has been no change of policy in this matter.

Last month, the Physiotherapists Registration Board established its register with effect from 30 September 2016 under the Health and Social Care Professionals Act 2005. This ensures that the specified title of physiotherapistwill be protected for the exclusive use of the board's registrants when the register’s two-year transitional period ends in September 2018.

In much of the rest of the English speaking world the titles of physiotherapist and physical therapistare interchangeable and their users are qualified physiotherapists. In Ireland, however, the title is also used by a number of practitioners who are not physiotherapists but who have been providing musculoskeletal therapies in the private sector for many years. Physiotherapists, on the other hand, are trained to provide cardio/respiratory and neurological therapies as well as musculoskeletal therapies and they practise in both the public and private sectors.

Earlier this year, my predecessor, Leo Varadkar T.D., having consulted with the Physiotherapists Registration Board and a number of other relevant organisations, announced that he had come to the conclusion that protecting the title of physical therapist under the Act as a variant of the title of physiotherapist would be the best way to eliminate the ongoing risk of title confusion and the consequent risks to public safety. He also decided to allow particular existing users of the title of physical therapist,who are not physiotherapists but who hold qualifications of a certain standard, to continue to use the title.

New grand-parenting provisions will allow such practitioners to apply, on a once-off basis and for a limited period, to register in the physiotherapists register. The registration board’s code of professional conduct and ethics will oblige all registrants, including those registered under the new provisions, to act within the limits of their knowledge, skills, competence and experience. In other words, in order to ensure public protection, those registered under these time-limited special provisions will be required to confine their practise to musculoskeletal therapies.

Preparation of the necessary legislation to give effect to these decisions is now at an advanced stage. The legislation will involve the making of regulations under the Health and Social Care Professionals Act 2005 together with the enactment of the necessary amendments to the Act to allow qualified existing users of the title of physical therapistto register on a once-off basis and for a limited period. It is my intention to seek Government approval in the next month or so to include these amendments to the Act in a Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill that is currently being drafted by the Parliamentary Counsel to the Government.