Professional regulation. Part 4: Self-regulation and the Consumer Council.

摘要

The thinking behind the Nursing and Midwifery Council, which came into being on 1 April 2002, was directed into two main veins: firstly, nurses who offended against the rules of the council would be disciplined according to a set of proscribed rule, with the spectre of being removed from the register ever present. The second vein was that of an increased presence and deliberate influence into the workings of the regulatory body, to the point of a lay input into the issue of sanctions being applied to nurses for perceived aberrant behaviour in addition to the influence asserted by Government by way of legislation (delegated legislation) and Department of Health policies and protocols. This resulted in layers of guidelines and 'principles for practice'. This article reflects on the theoretical concept of 'professional self-regulation' in the context of a suggested framework--produced by the National Consumer Council.