To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made through the revalidation process in identifying the measures required to regulate (a) doctors, (b) nurses, (c) pharmacists, (d) dentists and (e) other health professionals. (274344)

Following publication of the White Paper, “Trust, Assurance and Safety: The Regulation of health professionals in the 21^st Century” in 2007, seven working groups were established to develop professional regulation reforms. Two groups worked on medical and non-medical revalidation. Both their reports have now been published and can be downloaded from the Department’s website. Copies have been placed in the Library. The health care regulators are currently taking forward the proposals for revalidation.

www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/DH_J386430

www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/DH_091111

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what account is taken of (a) patient safety, (b) public protection and (c) standards of public service delivery in the framework for the revalidation of health professionals. (274345)

The process of revalidation for health professionals sits within the wider reforms to professional regulation as set out in the White Paper, “Trust, Assurance and Safety: The Regulation of Health Professionals in the 21^st Century”.

Revalidation is being built on the White Paper principles of public protection, patient safety and quality of care, with the recognition that revalidation is as much about sustaining, improving and assuring the professional standards of the overwhelming majority of health professionals as it is about identifying and addressing poor practice or bad behaviour.

Revalidation will provide a positive affirmation that practitioners meet the standards of competence, ethics, conduct, and are up to date and fit to practise.