05 December 2017

Positive collaboration on professional regulation

The British Academy of Audiology (BAA), British Society of Hearing Aid Audiologists (BSHAA) and NCHA met on 5 December to discuss the UK Government’s consultation on the regulation of healthcare professionals.

The meeting showed how the sector bodies have much in common, with new BAA President Sue Falkingham writing: “…it’s interesting to see how much more aligned we are on the future of regulation than we have ever been…a general alignment of the issues across the sector will hopefully make our voices stronger…it is important that we respond and make it clear that our preferred outcome would be statutory regulation for all.”

Similarly, NCHA Chief Executive David Hewlett said: “Sue is right – we all have so much to do together to ensure progress. The hearing bodies must work closely together as that is the only way we can protect services for patients and ensure the importance of hearing care and the value of our professions are recognised. There is a potential here of downgrading of essential clinical services which would be a retrograde step for patients and highly competent hearing professionals.”