Press Release

Health Professions Council launches fourth FTP annual report

The Health Professions Council (HPC) has launched its fourth fitness to practise annual report that details all aspects of its FTP function over the financial year 1 April 2006 to 31 March 2007.

The report provides detailed information about the HPC’s work in considering allegations about the fitness to practise of its registrants.

It also presents the ways in which practice committee panels have handled the cases brought before them, as well as information about the number and type of cases and their outcomes.

This year has seen an increase in the number and complexity of hearings.

In HPC’s first year of operation (April 2002 to March 2003) the HPC received 70 allegations, this financial year allegations totalled 322 which is an increase of 460%.

The increase has been steady across the last five years.

This report provides  more information on the types of cases that have been considered,  including the types of allegations received, cases where the panels have determined that there is a ‘case to answer’ and cases where a sanction has been imposed.

The report also looks into trends in the allegations received, detailing the types of allegations by profession and the location trends of allegations across the UK.

When asked to comment about the increase of cases, Kelly Johnson, Director of Fitness to Practise said:

"Although there has been an increase in the number of cases considered by panels in 2006-2007, the overall number of registrants who appear before our panels is still less than 1%.

"We attribute this increase to a better awareness of the HPC’s function and powers, particularly amongst the public and employers.

"The increase does not reflect a drop in the standard of care provided by the professionals registered with us. The vast majority of registrants are still acting in a safe, lawful and effective manner ". 

The Health Professions Council is an independent, UK-wide health regulator set up by the Health Professions Order (2001). 

The HPC keeps a register for thirteen different health professions and only  registers people who meet the standards it sets for their training, professional skills, behaviour and health.

The HPC will take action against people who do not meet these standards or who use a protected title illegally.