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Health and Care Professions Council
The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on equalities and human rights
How have groups of people been affected by the virus?
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HCPC regulates 23,232 registrants in Scotland. The COVID-19 pandemic will have affected each and every one in many different ways. Throughout, HCPC adapted how it regulates in order to protect the public, support registrants and help them focus on their work.
HCPC is committed to enhancing equality, diversity and inclusion across the professions. This is particularly important given the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on those from diverse backgrounds. In addition, the pandemic has highlighted, like never before, the issue of workforce burnout, and the importance of ensuring all frontline workers are being treated equally and fairly.
HCPC is committed to enhancing equality, diversity and inclusion across the professions. This is particularly important given the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on those from diverse backgrounds. In addition, the pandemic has highlighted, like never before, the issue of workforce burnout, and the importance of ensuring all frontline workers are being treated equally and fairly.
What do the Scottish Government and public authorities (e.g. local authorities, health boards etc.) need to change or improve as a matter of urgency?
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1. The HCPC does not have sufficient information on the impact of the virus on particular groups. However, it has been well-reported that people from BAME groups and lower socio-economic backgrounds are at increased risk of contracting COVID-19 and having a more serious outcome from contracting the virus.
2. The Scottish Government must use all the resources available to maximise the impact and effectiveness of the vaccine roll-out, and ensure equitable access throughout the country. The Scottish Government must involve all health and care professionals already able to administer prescription-only medicines, through either Independent Prescribing rights or Patient Group Directions. By using the full range of professions, who have the right knowledge, training and experience to administer vaccines, we can swiftly and efficiently reach those who need it most, saving further lives and protecting the NHS.
3. In particular, the Scottish Government must ensure that there is equality of access when it comes to the vaccine. As we know that COVID-19 has a disproportionate impact on people who are BAME and from lower socio-economic backgrounds, health and care professionals and service users who are from these groups must be encouraged to receive the vaccine. Scottish Government should also be proactive in tackling misinformation and engaging groups that typically may be more isolated to improve uptake. The Scottish Government should be aware that structural barriers might exist that make certain groups less likely to engage and these should be actively tackled wherever possible.
2. The Scottish Government must use all the resources available to maximise the impact and effectiveness of the vaccine roll-out, and ensure equitable access throughout the country. The Scottish Government must involve all health and care professionals already able to administer prescription-only medicines, through either Independent Prescribing rights or Patient Group Directions. By using the full range of professions, who have the right knowledge, training and experience to administer vaccines, we can swiftly and efficiently reach those who need it most, saving further lives and protecting the NHS.
3. In particular, the Scottish Government must ensure that there is equality of access when it comes to the vaccine. As we know that COVID-19 has a disproportionate impact on people who are BAME and from lower socio-economic backgrounds, health and care professionals and service users who are from these groups must be encouraged to receive the vaccine. Scottish Government should also be proactive in tackling misinformation and engaging groups that typically may be more isolated to improve uptake. The Scottish Government should be aware that structural barriers might exist that make certain groups less likely to engage and these should be actively tackled wherever possible.
What do the Scottish Government and public authorities need to change or improve in the medium to long term?
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1. Data driven regulation will ensure we are able to rapidly address any inequalities in health and care provision.
2. The COVID-19 pandemic vividly illustrates the importance and value of innovation, pragmatism and decisiveness. In professional regulation, a new legislative framework is urgently needed if we are to move beyond pre-pandemic ways of working.
3. The HCPC has been calling for risk-based regulation as the most effective way to keep patients and service users safe, while enabling and supporting the professionals we regulate to innovate and adapt to the rapidly changing world of healthcare. This requires a significant modernisation of the regulatory framework.
4. Regulation needs to be data-driven, targeted, responsive and good value. Possibilities include streamlined international processes (especially relevant for paramedics); facilitating comparable qualifications assessments and online assessments.
5. Delivering real cultural change across all levels of management within the NHS; reducing inappropriate expectations of staff and ensuring they feel genuinely valued and listened to will take significant investment, resources and sustained focus. This process will require joined up working from employers, professionals, professional bodies, trades unions and others. As a regulator the HCPC is committed to playing its role to support a culture of change.
6. The COVID-19 pandemic has also highlighted inequalities in society and the need for the health sector to adapt to address these. As above, we would encourage the Scottish Government and public authorities to work with all protected characteristics and people from different backgrounds to address these inequalities.
2. The COVID-19 pandemic vividly illustrates the importance and value of innovation, pragmatism and decisiveness. In professional regulation, a new legislative framework is urgently needed if we are to move beyond pre-pandemic ways of working.
3. The HCPC has been calling for risk-based regulation as the most effective way to keep patients and service users safe, while enabling and supporting the professionals we regulate to innovate and adapt to the rapidly changing world of healthcare. This requires a significant modernisation of the regulatory framework.
4. Regulation needs to be data-driven, targeted, responsive and good value. Possibilities include streamlined international processes (especially relevant for paramedics); facilitating comparable qualifications assessments and online assessments.
5. Delivering real cultural change across all levels of management within the NHS; reducing inappropriate expectations of staff and ensuring they feel genuinely valued and listened to will take significant investment, resources and sustained focus. This process will require joined up working from employers, professionals, professional bodies, trades unions and others. As a regulator the HCPC is committed to playing its role to support a culture of change.
6. The COVID-19 pandemic has also highlighted inequalities in society and the need for the health sector to adapt to address these. As above, we would encourage the Scottish Government and public authorities to work with all protected characteristics and people from different backgrounds to address these inequalities.