Statement from UK Chief Allied Health Professions Officers and the Health and Care Professions Council regarding returnees to the HCPC register to respond to coronavirus demand

The coronavirus has united the nation in our efforts to delay the spread of the virus and support vulnerable members of our communities.

Health and social care services will be under increasing pressure as the number of cases increase.

We are proud that many Allied Health Professionals (AHPs) who have recently left the HCPC register have expressed a willingness to come back and help during the national emergency. We thank you for this and are keen to ensure your temporary return is as smooth as possible.

For this reason, we have agreed to automatically re-register all AHPs who have voluntarily left the HCPC register over the last three years onto a temporary COVID-19 Register once the government has passed its emergency legislation.

The HCPC will be contacting former registrants over the coming weeks to explain this process. There will also be more detailed information about HCPC’s policy, guidance to those who choose to return, and FAQs at www.hcpc-uk.org/covid-19.

Being placed on this temporary register does not assume any obligation to offer support as we appreciate not everyone will be able to do so for a variety of reasons.

To everyone who does offer to help in this time of crisis we would like to express our sincere appreciation.

Suzanne Rastrick, Chief Allied Health Professions Officer, NHS England

Jennifer Keane, Chief Allied Health Professions Officer, Department of Health Northern Ireland

Carolyn MacDonald, Chief Allied Health Professions Officer, Scottish Government

Ruth Crowder, Chief Therapies (Allied Health Professions) Adviser, Welsh Government

John Barwick, Chief Executive and Registrar, Health and Care Professions Council

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Notes to editors

The Health and Care Professions Council 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.

The HCPC currently regulates 15 health and care professions. Each of these professions has one or more ‘protected titles’. Anyone who uses one of these titles must register with the HCPC. The full list of protected titles can be found here.

Requests for interview should be made through the HCPC Press Office on 07585 992 942 or press@hcpc-uk.org.