CNHC up and running!!
It is now several months since the Complementary and Natural Healthcare Council (CNHC) was established. In that time, substantial progress has been made with the appointment of two co-Chairs, the very experienced pairing of Maggie Dunn and Maggy Wallace. Both have extensive history in the areas of healthcare, voluntary self regulation and the recent work of the PFIH programme, including its Federal Working Group (FWG).
The CNHC is the outcome of the FWG process, and operates as an interface between the public and practitioners. One of the major functions of the CNHC will be to set up and maintain a Register of practitioners, establishing a benchmark standard of practitioner competence, enhancing the protection of the public as well as providing a means of recourse for the public in the case of a complaint against a registered practitioner. The CNHC has established an interim website which gives more information on how the CNHC sees its role in this area.
The CNHC is currently engaged in recruiting members to serve on its Federal Regulatory Board and Functional Committees (Education & Standards; Conduct & Competence; Registration; and Finance), as well as looking at the mechanism by which practitioners may participate on the Profession Specific Board (PSB) part of the Federal Regulatory Board, as and when the various professions and their members are ready.
At the present time, two of the original FWG member professions are at a stage where they can go forward to Registration with the CNHC. The other professions, including the Alexander Technique teaching profession, have further work to do to get to this point, and it is anticipated that a profession-wide viewing of the final registration package may take place within a year. It will then be up to individual teachers to choose whether or not to put themselves forward for registration with the CNHC.