In focus: GOC joins resistance to merging of regulation

Healthcare regulators have been placed under the spotlight following the release of a government paper Promoting Professionalism, Reforming Regulation.

But what sort of reform was likely? And having said there was no clear rationale for the current position of having nine regulatory bodies, could high street regulation be merged?

When the government launched its consultation in October of last year, it described regulation for healthcare professionals as ‘complex and outdated’.

‘The regulation of healthcare professionals must change in order to protect patients, to support the transformation of our healthcare services and to meet future challenges. It needs to be faster, simpler, better and less costly,’ the Department of Health stated.