Update to Members: Correspondence with Senator and TD’s

Following the Senator’s May 13th contribution in the Seanad recognising the vital role of Clinical Measurement Physiologists, the IICMP wrote on behalf of its members to thank her for highlighting the important work carried out by Clinical Measurement Physiologists and for raising concerns about the continued absence of statutory regulation.

We also wrote to TD’s Liam Quaide, Padraig Rice, Sorca Clarke, Ken O Flynn and Martin Daly.

In our correspondence, we outlined the significant patient safety and public protection risks associated with the current lack of independent statutory regulation. We reiterated that the IICMP has advocated for statutory regulation for more than a decade to ensure independent oversight, consistent professional standards, and public confidence in the profession.
The letter also highlighted our concerns regarding recent changes whereby the HSE has assumed responsibility for aspects of qualification recognition and professional oversight. We expressed our view that regulatory functions should sit within an independent statutory framework, rather than with the employer, to ensure appropriate and autonomous governance and to safeguard patient safety.

We advised that the Chair of Oireachtas Health Committee requested a formal submission from the IICMP. This submission was made in May and outlined these concerns and issues. We also continue to seek meaningful engagement with the Minister for Health on this matter.

Finally, we requested an opportunity to meet with each recipient to discuss the profession, the current regulatory challenges, and the urgent need for independent statutory regulation as well as an overall workforce review.

We also thanked the Senator for acknowledging the invaluable contribution Clinical Measurement Physiologists make to healthcare and for her continued support in highlighting these important issues.

We as a Professional Body will continue to lobby on the profession’s behalf and seek the recognition and acknowledgement that our highly skilled physiologists deserve.