Steering Committee Struck to Review Health Professions Regulation

(May 21, 2019) On May 14, 2019 the BC Government announced the establishment of a Steering Committee to develop a proposal for the modernization of regulation for health professions in British Columbia. The Steering Committee is to respond to Part Two of the report released on April 11, 2019 titled: An Inquiry into the Performance of the College of Dental Surgeons of British Columbia and the Health Professions Act (Cayton Report). It was authored by Mr. Harry Cayton of the Professional Standards Authority in the United Kingdom. Part Two of the report outlines possible approaches for a modernized provincial health profession regulatory framework that will protect the public interest, enable high quality care, and suggests reducing the number of regulatory colleges.

The board and senior staff of the College of Occupational Therapists of BC (COTBC) have been reviewing the Cayton Report since its release. COTBC Registrar/CEO Kathy Corbett maintains that, “Protection of the public is the heart of professional regulation and grounds all of our College programs. We strive, through reflection and a culture of continuous improvement, to be accountable for the trust we earn from the public. The report serves as a reminder that public confidence is dependent on our commitment to these ideals.”

Although many of the report’s recommendations are part of the College’s current practices, the College looks forward to the opportunity for engagement and discussing new approaches.

The Steering Committee’s initial work involves a public consultation. Members of the public and health system stakeholders are invited to provide written comments on Part Two of the report by June 14, 2019. You will find the Cayton Report and further information regarding the Steering Committee on the Ministry of Health’s Professional Regulation page.

Comments or questions are welcomed by COTBC. Please direct these to Kathy Corbett Registrar/CEO.

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