Voluntary Registration Workshop

I was a bit nervous prior to the event because I hadn’t talked about this before.
I was happy for the people to interrupt with questions all the way through, as this made it easy for us all. There was many questions throughout which helped me to understand others issues and them to get the knowledge they needed.
The main issues that were raised were:

• Why do we need to do this
• Why voluntarily
• What if we don’t do it
• Why cant we just do it when we have to

My answers were based around:

• Department of Health- has called for all healthcare professions to be regulated. This is not something the AAPT has dreamt up

• Standards – we must maintain high standards of working across our profession to show we are all working to the same i.e. standards in on e part of the country are not different from another

• Education -changes to our current e.g. foundation degrees and on going- to show we are keeping up to date. In order to carry on our own roles and possible new ones we must change what and how we do things and that means being accountable as other health professionals are e.g. nurses

• Future pay- could mean different pay for VRC and non VRC staff

• Locums- It is likely that all locum agencies will need to have registered staff on their books as it is a simple safeguard to prove standards and quality

• Different roles- e.g. advanced practitioner we will need to be VRC registered

• HTA licenses- of which it may be needed in the future that a Person Designated is VRC or HPC registered

• Register now- It is far cheaper £45 now instead of £120+ when it is compulsory. Also Trusts have the option to repay £38 of a person’s registration. Technically the AAPT is not on the list but my Trust have agreed to add it to the list because they see it as a great benefit to the staff, the service and the future of the profession. Therefore my registration cost £7. As a registered person it has opened the door to opportunities e.g. CBRN work and being recognized more within the Trust and community as I am legally accountable so I am seen as a safe pair of hands.

Iain Johnstone
AAPT Council Member