Health Professions Council appoints Doctors.net.uk

June 29, 2010 - PRLog -- Established to regulate fifteen different health professions, including groups as diverse as paramedics, physiotherapists, practitioner psychologists, clinical scientists, podiatrists/chiropodists and hearing aid dispensers, the HPC is an independent, UK-wide regulator that was set up to protect the public.

However, recent research has revealed low levels of awareness, with just over a third of doctors (38 per cent) knowing about the organisation.

The HPC provides the ability to check through its online register the credentials of 205,000 health professionals it regulates.  Through its register, which is constantly updated to include all individuals that meet and maintain its professional standards of practice, the HPC plays a critical role in enabling GPs to fulfil their obligation to improving patient safety and public protection.

Set to launch in July, the Doctors.net.uk campaign aims to engage GPs and increase awareness of the HPC and its online register. It highlights the vital role GPs play in making patient referrals and, most importantly, ensures that GPs and patients are aware of the HPC when referring on to HPC regulated health professionals, as well as reinforcing the benefits of using the online register as part of patient consultations.  

Ebony Gayle, media and public relations manager of the Health Professions Council said: “We are determined to increase awareness of the HPC and our online register among GPs and to explain how the HPC can assist them in their duties around patient safety.  

“We currently register and regulate over 205,000 professionals from 15 different professions including chiropodists, dieticians, physiotherapists and practitioner psychologists, and it is important that referrers such as GPs are aware of the HPC so they can inform their patients about us when referring to one of the health professionals we regulate. This is part of a six month programme and, through Doctors.net.uk, we hope to engage a large proportion of GPs during this period.”

Simon Grime, head of healthcare at Doctors.net.uk, added: “GPs are key to the success of the HPC and joining forces with Doctors.net.uk will enable them to engage GPs directly with their key messages.  Not only will the programme reinforce what is required of GPs and their professional obligations to patient safety and public protection, but it will also help practically, by encouraging them to use the online register as part of the referral process.”

Doctors.net.uk works with a range of public and private sector organisations, from the Department of Health and NHS bodies, to charities and medical technology companies to deliver campaigns that drive awareness, engagement and behaviour change.

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Doctors.net.uk is the largest and most active network of medical professionals in the UK.
Doctors.net.uk has a membership comprising the vast majority of UK doctors. Each week over 50,000 use the service making it the online resource most frequently used by doctors. The network provides extensive clinical content including online education, conference highlights, user-generated content and fora for discussion. This array of content supports doctors in making the best decisions for the care of their patients. In surveys, 97% of members of the network say that Doctors.net.uk is their most trusted source of information.
The network was created for doctors, by doctors in 1998. Some 600 doctors now act as advisers and clinical information contributors. Credibility and integrity of all published materials is assured thanks to a code of absolute transparency for all information and an experienced editorial team.