PRESS RELEASE No: 120/2014

STATUTORY REGULATION OF ALLIED HEALTH PROFESSIONS (also known as PROFESSIONS ALLIED TO / SUPPLEMENTARY TO MEDICINE)

By New Statesman

HM GOVERNMENT OF GIBRALTAR

PRESS RELEASE No: 120/2014

Date: 17th March 2014

STATUTORY REGULATION OF ALLIED HEALTH PROFESSIONS (also known as PROFESSIONS ALLIED TO / SUPPLEMENTARY TO MEDICINE)

The Government will shortly be enacting law on the regulation of Allied Health Practitioners (AHPs). An Allied Health Practitioner (AHP) is a member of one of the 23 professions listed in the appendix to this Press Release.

The purpose of this Press Release is to inform and alert such practitioners about imminent changes in the law that are likely to impact upon their professional practice.

The new law will make it mandatory for any practitioner in the 23 listed professions to register with the Medical Registration Board prior to engaging in any practice of his/her profession. Practice in Gibraltar without appropriate registration will be a legal offence and prosecutable.

The law will require that in order to register with the Gibraltar Board, all AHPs should already be registered with the respective UK Regulator (also listed in the appendix to this Press Release) and that such registration should be current and valid at all times. The practitioner will also be required to comply with the guidance of the respective UK Regulator, such as in ethical practice, professional development, standards of work, etc.

The new law will come into force from the 1st October 2014.

Allied Health Practitioners who do not have a current and valid registration with their respective UK Regulator are strongly advised to take immediate steps to obtain such registration and will not be receiving any further notice. Practitioners already holding registrations with their UK Regulator are advised to await further instructions from the Medical Registration Board. Practitioners who intend to rely on European qualifications to entitle them to practise in Gibraltar should contact the Medical Registration Board for information as to the procedures for recognition of their entitlements.

The Medical Registration Board, as the statutory body that will be regulating these professions, will shortly be publishing practical details of registration procedures. At this stage, practitioners do not need to do anything, but they may wish to record their interest and contact details for further updates and mailings with the secretary of the Medical Registration Board, whose contacts are given below.

Medical Registration Board

Email : Sandra.Lopez@gha.gi

Phone : +(350) 2007 1685

Opening Hours : Mondays to Fridays between 9:00 AM and 1:00 PM

(Appendix : List of Allied Health Professions)

APPENDIX : LIST OF ALLIED HEALTH PROFESSIONS

to be regulated by amendment to the Medical & Health Act 1997

Regulated profession	Protected title	UK Regulator
Arts Therapist	Art Therapist Art Psychotherapist Drama Therapist Music Therapist	Health Care Professions Council
Biomedical Scientist	Biomedical Scientist	Health Care Professions Council
Chiropodist and podiatrist	Chiropodist Podiatrist	Health Care Professions Council
Chiropractor	Chiropractor	General Chiropractic Council
Clinical Scientist	Clinical Scientist	Health Care Professions Council
Dental Hygienist	Dental Hygienist	General Dental Council
Dental Technician	Health Care Professions CouncilDental Technician	General Dental Council
Dental Therapist	Dental Therapist	General Dental Council
Dietician	Dietician Dietitian	Health Care Professions Council
Dispensing Optician	Dispensing Optician	General Optical Council
Hearing Aid Dispenser	Hearing Aid Dispenser	Health Care Professions Council
Occupational Therapist	Occupational Therapist	Health Care Professions Council
Operating Department Technician	Operating Department Technician	Health Care Professions Council
Optometrist	Optometrist Ophthalmic Optician Optician	General Optical Council
Orthodontic Therapist	Orthodontic Therapist	General Dental Council
Orthoptist	Orthoptist	Health Care Professions Council
Orthotist and Prosthetist	Prosthetist Orthotist	Health Care Professions Council
Osteopath	Osteopath	General Osteopathic Council
Paramedic	Paramedic	Health Care Professions Council
Physiotherapist	Physiotherapist Physical Therapist	Health Care Professions Council
Practitioner Psychologist	Clinical Psychologist Counselling Psychologist Educational Psychologist Forensic psychologist Health Psychologist Occupational Psychologist	Health Care Professions Council
Radiographer	Radiographer Diagnostic Radiographer Therapeutic Radiographer	Health Care Professions Council
Speech and Language Therapist	Speech and Language Therapist Speech Therapist	Health Care Professions Council