'Modernising regulation in the health professions' consultation document

The government published Modernising regulation in the health professions in August 2001. The document set out proposals covering the functions of the new Council for the Regulation of Healthcare Professionals and the accountability of the individual professional regulatory bodies.

The document suggested that, in the past, the internal workings of regulatory bodies had not kept pace with broader changes across the NHS and a perception had arisen that sometimes professional self-interest had been placed before the interests of patients.

The government proposed a new framework for self-regulation and suggested that the regulatory bodies should be accountable to the Council for the Regulation of Healthcare Professionals.