IBMS Response: HCPC fee rise
On 23rd February 2023 the Health and Care Professions Council's (HCPC) Council considered proposals to increase the annual registration fee by £19.62 (20%) from £98.12 to £117.74 as set out in this paper. Their Council agreed to the proposed increase.
If approved by the UK and Scottish parliaments, the fee rise will come into effect in the second half of 2023 at the earliest, with most professions not paying the revised fee until 2024 or 2025 (we will publish the date for biomedical scientists as soon as it is known).
In our response to the HCPC consultation, we recognised the business position of the HCPC, and the need for it to cover its running costs, but explained why the justifications and rationale for the proposed increases in fees were not perceived by our members as justifiable.
Earlier today, IBMS Chief Executive David Wells met with the HCPC's CEO Andrew Smith to discuss the rises and express our members' position. After the meeting, he commented:
We are bitterly disappointed in the outcome of this consultation especially after we outlined our concerns to the HCPC last year raising the impact it will have on our members.
Today I have spoken directly to the Interim CEO of the HCPC and told them that if they are going to apply this change then it is vital that they deliver on the promised improvements.
The IBMS will continue to work closely with the HCPC to ensure that they deliver for our members - particularly in the area of promoting protected time for CPD.
HCPC Council chair Christine Elliott said:
Council, which includes members who are registrants, and members from all UK nations, regretfully approved this essential and urgent uplift to fees.
Council is deeply conscious of the serious cost of living pressures that registrants are contending with. The fee rise would go hand-in-hand with measures to mitigate the burden of the proposed increase. The HCPC is committed to providing excellent service at the lowest sustainable price.
In recognition of the difficult circumstances registrants are facing, alongside the fee rise the HCPC Council also committed to implementing the following mitigation measures:
- Introduce more frequent direct debits as soon as practicable if (and only if) we secure the requested fee increase
- Retain the 50% graduate discount rate
- Work proactively with employers to promote protected Continuing Professional Development time, building on work we have already started
- More actively promote the availability of tax relief on HCPC fees, including through updates to our website guidance, and additional signposting on our online registration portal and through our renewal communications and social media activity