Written by Tom O'Connor, Head of Income Generation & Project Management.

At the Patients Association, we believe in empowering patients by ensuring their voices inform the design and delivery of services. Recently, we partnered with the Professional Standards Authority (PSA) to support its public consultation process for the review of two sets of standards: The Standards of Good Regulation and the Standards for Accredited Registers which underpin the safety and quality of healthcare.

The PSA is the UK’s oversight body for the regulation of people working in health and social care.  The PSA works to protect the public by overseeing 10 professional regulators, (such as the General Medical Council and General Optical Council).  It also accredits organisations that manage registers of healthcare professionals who are not regulated by law. Its role is critical in maintaining patient safety and helping to protect the public. 

The PSA approached us because it is important to it to review its work from time to time and in doing so to hear directly from a wide range of people who are involved with, and affected by, its work.  The two sets of standards we looked at are used by it to assess how well regulators and registers are doing its job of protecting the public.

Our focus groups brought together diverse patients to share their insights on both sets of standards, helping to ensure that not only are they comprehensive but also accessible and relevant to the public.

What we learned

From checks on healthcare professionals, to the complaints process, during the review patients identified several key areas where the PSA’s standards can evolve to better reflect patient needs:

1. Comprehensive checks for professionals: patients emphasised the importance of background checks, verified qualifications, and training in areas like mental health and cultural competence. Clearer communication about professional roles and credentials was also highlighted,
2. Improving complaints processes: barriers such as complexity of complaints processes, fear of retaliation, and lack of support prevent many patients from raising concerns. Patients called for transparent, empathetic processes with independent support and robust whistleblowing protections,
3. Consistent standards across professions: most participants advocated for uniform standards for all health and social care professionals to ensure clarity and equality. However, there was also support for role-specific standards in addition where appropriate and necessary,
4. Accessible standards and frameworks: many found the current standards overwhelming and inaccessible, with calls for simplified, jargon-free versions in multiple formats.

Regulatory standards may seem removed from frontline care, but their impact is profound. They ensure the safety and competence of healthcare professionals and protect patients in moments of vulnerability. By involving patients in the review of standards, we can ensure that they resonate with people’s lived experiences and uphold the public’s trust.

 The Patients Association’s partnership with the PSA underscores the power of co-production with patients. By listening to diverse voices, we are ensuring that regulatory frameworks protect not just public health but also public confidence.

We look forward to seeing the outcomes of this consultation and continuing to champion patient engagement at every level.

Have Your Say

The consultation process is now open to the public, and we encourage everyone to participate. Even if you didn’t join the focus groups, your feedback is invaluable in shaping standards that safeguard everyone’s healthcare journey.

The consultation seeks views on the following:

• bringing the two types of standards into alignment where it is possible,
• making the standards clearer, more accessible and transparent,
• whether and how we should take an interest in organisational governance, culture and leadership given how often it emerges as a challenge in the health and social care sector, and the impact it can have on performance,
• whether measures could be introduced to remove gaps in criminal convictions checks for some health and social care practitioners, and
• whether new criteria for registers applying for accreditation will support public confidence.

To learn more about the consultation or share your views, visit the PSA's website.