The Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) has called for greater recognition of health and care professionals, and is asking government and the public to remember the sentiments expressed towards all key workers during the first lockdown.
John Barwick, HCPC CEO and Registrar, commented: “During the first few months of this year, the government and the general public were incredibly understanding and supportive of all health and care roles, even ones which weren’t in the public eye. Now we have all stopped applauding these professionals, there is a danger we will stop appreciating and understanding the important work these professionals do.
“That’s why, today, we’re calling for greater recognition and support of the work carried out by health and care professionals on our register. In recent weeks, we’ve seen social media campaigns and news articles which have cast some of these professionals, and the crucial work they do, in a negative light. We’d like the government to continue to champion the work of health and care professionals and to speak out against these ill-informed campaigns. We’d also like to encourage the public to be more understanding of the vital role HCPC-registered health and care professionals play in keeping them safe.”
The HCPC is an independent regulator set up by the Health and Social Work Professions Order 2001. The HCPC keeps a register for 15 different health and care professions and only registers people who meet the standards it sets for their training, professional skills, behaviour and health. The HCPC will take action against professionals who do not meet these standards or who use a protected title illegally.