Proposed 18% registration fee hike by Health & Care Professions Council is ‘unjust’

14 Dec 2018 10:42 AM

The proposed 18% fee hike for registration to the Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC) has got ‘a resounding thumbs down’ from Unite the union.

Unite argues that the increase proposed from October 2019 is another financial  blow to hard-pressed  NHS staff, such as biomedical scientists paramedics and speech & language therapists, who have seen the fees increase by 40% since 2014.

In its response to the HCPC’s consultation, Unite called on the organisation to ‘seriously reconsider’ the proposed rise from £90 to £106 a year, as NHS pay has stagnated in real terms and the cost of living has raced ahead.

Unite lead professional officer for regulation Jane Beach said:

“We have consulted widely with our members who have to register with the HCPC in order that they can work professionally – and they have given the proposed increase a resounding thumbs down.

“We urge the HCPC to reconsider this unjust 18% rise as this will cause increased financial hardship to already struggling and dedicated professionals.”

Unite’s consultation said:

“The NHS is currently under enormous pressure and staff shortages are becoming increasingly apparent throughout the health professions, so anything that could act as a disincentive for those wanting to join or remain in the service and those wishing to re-join on a part-time basis must be avoided.”

Unite also fears that HCPC registrants will be picking up the tab for social workers moving to the new regulator, Social Work England.

The consultation adds:

“We are concerned that moves to increase the registration fee are a direct response to the HCPC’s predicted loss of income when social workers in England transfer to the new regulator in 2019.

“As social workers account for 59% of all fitness to practise cases the HCPC deals with – the HCPC’s single largest area of expenditure, when they leave the register in 2019, we would expect the HCPC’s costs to significantly decrease.”

Unite has launched a petition so that members can register their opposition to the fee hike

It can be accessed via: http://bit.ly/2zMwsi0

Notes to editors:

For more information please contact Unite senior communications officer Shaun Noble on 020 3371 2060 or 07768 693940. Unite press office is on:  020 3371 2065

Email: shaun.noble@unitetheunion.org