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  1. Newstatesman Gibraltar
21 March 2014updated 07 Sep 2021 10:47am

PRESS RELEASE No: 120/2014

STATUTORY REGULATION OF ALLIED HEALTH PROFESSIONS (also known as PROFESSIONS ALLIED TO / SUPPLEMENTARY TO MEDICINE)

By New Statesman

HM GOVERNMENT OF GIBRALTAR

PRESS RELEASE No: 120/2014

Date: 17th March 2014

STATUTORY REGULATION OF ALLIED HEALTH PROFESSIONS (also known as PROFESSIONS ALLIED TO / SUPPLEMENTARY TO MEDICINE)

The Government will shortly be enacting law on the regulation of Allied Health Practitioners (AHPs). An Allied Health Practitioner (AHP) is a member of one of the 23 professions listed in the appendix to this Press Release.

The purpose of this Press Release is to inform and alert such practitioners about imminent changes in the law that are likely to impact upon their professional practice.

The new law will make it mandatory for any practitioner in the 23 listed professions to register with the Medical Registration Board prior to engaging in any practice of his/her profession. Practice in Gibraltar without appropriate registration will be a legal offence and prosecutable.

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The law will require that in order to register with the Gibraltar Board, all AHPs should already be registered with the respective UK Regulator (also listed in the appendix to this Press Release) and that such registration should be current and valid at all times. The practitioner will also be required to comply with the guidance of the respective UK Regulator, such as in ethical practice, professional development, standards of work, etc.

The new law will come into force from the 1st October 2014.

Allied Health Practitioners who do not have a current and valid registration with their respective UK Regulator are strongly advised to take immediate steps to obtain such registration and will not be receiving any further notice. Practitioners already holding registrations with their UK Regulator are advised to await further instructions from the Medical Registration Board. Practitioners who intend to rely on European qualifications to entitle them to practise in Gibraltar should contact the Medical Registration Board for information as to the procedures for recognition of their entitlements.

The Medical Registration Board, as the statutory body that will be regulating these professions, will shortly be publishing practical details of registration procedures. At this stage, practitioners do not need to do anything, but they may wish to record their interest and contact details for further updates and mailings with the secretary of the Medical Registration Board, whose contacts are given below.

Medical Registration Board

Email : Sandra.Lopez@gha.gi

Phone : +(350) 2007 1685

Opening Hours : Mondays to Fridays between 9:00 AM and 1:00 PM

(Appendix : List of Allied Health Professions)

APPENDIX : LIST OF ALLIED HEALTH PROFESSIONS

to be regulated by amendment to the Medical & Health Act 1997

Regulated

profession

Protected title UK Regulator
Arts Therapist Art Therapist

Art Psychotherapist

Drama Therapist

Music Therapist

Health Care Professions Council
Biomedical Scientist Biomedical Scientist Health Care Professions Council
Chiropodist and podiatrist Chiropodist

Podiatrist

Health Care Professions Council
Chiropractor Chiropractor General Chiropractic Council
Clinical Scientist Clinical Scientist Health Care Professions Council
Dental Hygienist Dental Hygienist General Dental Council
Dental Technician Health Care Professions

CouncilDental Technician

General Dental Council
Dental Therapist Dental Therapist General Dental Council
Dietician Dietician

Dietitian

Health Care Professions Council
Dispensing Optician Dispensing Optician General Optical Council
Hearing Aid Dispenser Hearing Aid Dispenser Health Care Professions Council
Occupational Therapist Occupational Therapist Health Care Professions Council
Operating Department Technician Operating Department Technician Health Care Professions Council
Optometrist Optometrist

Ophthalmic Optician

Optician

General Optical Council
Orthodontic Therapist Orthodontic Therapist General Dental Council
Orthoptist Orthoptist Health Care Professions Council
Orthotist and Prosthetist Prosthetist

Orthotist

Health Care Professions Council
Osteopath Osteopath General Osteopathic Council
Paramedic Paramedic Health Care Professions Council
Physiotherapist Physiotherapist

Physical Therapist

Health Care Professions Council
Practitioner Psychologist Clinical Psychologist

Counselling Psychologist

Educational Psychologist

Forensic psychologist

Health Psychologist

Occupational Psychologist

Health Care Professions Council
Radiographer Radiographer

Diagnostic Radiographer

Therapeutic Radiographer

Health Care Professions Council
Speech and Language Therapist Speech and Language Therapist

Speech Therapist

Health Care Professions Council

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