Regulation of support workers could be shared

There is widespread support for a 'mixed' or 'hybrid' model of regulation for HCAs which could include both statutory regulation and employers, according to the NMC.

But Kathy George, NMC director of standards and registration, told the regulator's last council meeting in June that final decisions over HCA regulation had yet to reached. 'There is not going to be an easy way forward, but we will continue to scope this out,' she said.

Later this month a working group to examine extending professional regulation will publish an interim report further considering the regulatory proposals.

The RCN and Unison currently favour different approaches to HCA regulation. See next week's NT for more on the issue.