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Kingsley Napley’s Medical Negligence Team ‘walks together’ with the Dame Vera Lynn Children’s Charity
Sharon Burkill
Legal
Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA)
On 20 July 2023, the SRA published its latest suite of annual reports, which highlighted the SRA’s enforcement work on strategic litigation against public participation (SLAPPs), the increase in alternative business structures (ABSs) and the fact that the number of solicitor apprenticeships has more than doubled from 2020/21 to 2021/22.
The SRA’s research into the unbundling of legal services, published on 15 June 2023, set out the potential benefits of unbundling for law firms but found that awareness about it amongst legal services providers remained low.
Bar Standards Board (BSB)
The Director General of the BSB, Mark Neale, gave a speech on the need for independent regulation of the Bar on 4 July 2023. He argued that professional regulation is not like the regulation of utilities, and the BSB and the profession are not “adversaries”, but that the regulator must make independent judgements as to how well the profession is serving the public interest.
On 22 June 2023, the BSB issued a consultation seeking views on proposed changes which would widen its powers (and the powers of Disciplinary Tribunals) to impose interim restrictions on a barrister’s practising certificate where a finding of misconduct has been made but the decision on sanction has been deferred to a later date.
Health
On 20 July 2023, several health regulators issued a joint statement on meeting regulatory standards during periods of global or national shortage of medicines.
This was issued in response to reports that people with Type 2 diabetes are experiencing problems accessing GLP-1 receptor agonists.
The statement recognised that health and care professionals are having to balance a range of factors such as individual patient needs, wider public health and pressures and limitations on available resources such as medicines shortages or other supply chain issues. It stressed that professionals advise on, prescribe, supply, dispense or administer medicines within the limits of their training, competence and scope of practice, regulatory standards and guidance and the law.
Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC)
On 28 June 2023, the Professional Standards Authority (PSA) published its annual performance review of the HCPC.
The HCPC met 16 of the 18 Standards of Good Regulation, regaining two fitness to practise (FTP) standards and one standard linked to registration.
General Medical Council (GMC)
On 11 July 2023, the GMC revealed that more than a quarter (27%) of doctors who responded to the GMC’s annual national training survey said they’ve experienced micro-aggressions, negative comments, or oppressive body language from colleagues. Despite this, eight out of ten (83%) trainees said they had a good or very good experience in their post. Over three quarters (77%) said that staff, including fellow doctors-in-training, always treat each other with respect.
In June, the GMC published its report titled “The state of medical education and practice in the UK 2023”, warning that urgent action is needed to break a ‘vicious cycle’ of unmanageable workloads, dissatisfaction and burnout that is causing UK doctors to take steps to quit.
Nursing & Midwifery Council (NMC)
On 17 July 2023, the NMC published its Annual Report and Accounts and a Fitness to Practise Annual Report, highlighting the work it has done in the past year to promote and uphold the high standards of nursing and midwifery practice.
The Reports showed a 14% reduction in the NMC’s Fitness to Practise caseload.
General Dental Council (GDC)
On 4 July 2023, the GDC launched a consultation on routes to registration for internationally qualified dentists and dental care professionals (DCPs).
The consultation proposes new rules setting out the standards and processes for the assessment of qualifications of dentists and DCPs who qualify outside the UK that are broadly in line with the current arrangements.
Finance
Financial Reporting Council (FRC)
On 21 July 2023, the FRC published its Annual Report for 2022/23, mentioning that it continues to progress towards becoming the Audit, Reporting and Governance Authority (ARGA). The Report highlights the FRC’s key achievements in the past year, such as its launch of a consultation on enhancing the UK Corporate Governance Code and minimum standards for audit committees.
Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA)
The ACCA published its Annual Report on Regulation 2023.
Education
Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA)
The TRA laid its Annual Report before Parliament on 13 July 2023. The Report revealed that the TRA’s focus has been to increase its capacity to conclude teacher misconduct cases, following its live caseload having increased at an average rate of 27% per year between 2019 and 2022.
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