News Release
11th January 2005
Health Professions Council election scheme revealed

The Health Professions Council (HPC) today unveiled the scheme for the election of its new Council to be held in the over the spring of 2005.  Having received Parliamentary approval for the Rules, the scheme will see over 150,000 health professionals from 13 health professions vote for their professional members on Council.

The HPC has been running for four years now (one year in shadow format) and July 8th 2005 will bring to an end the term of office of the current Council.  All 40 members of Council, including the 13 alternate professional members will stand down. Those professional members who want to seek re-election will stand along with any other individuals wishing put themselves forward.

People wishing to stand for election as a Council member will need to be nominated by 6 fellow health professionals all of whom must be on the same part of the HPC register.  The nomination forms along with further information on the election scheme will be mailed to all 152,500 health professionals on the HPC register in mid February 2005.

The election itself will take place in late April and May 2005.  The results will be posted on the HPC website in early June 2005 with the new Council sitting for the first time formally on Tuesday July 12th, at Park House in London.  

Lay members of Council will also step down, but rather than going through a formal election process, they may be re-appointed by the Privy Council.

The election rules make provision to ensure that each home country in the United Kingdom is represented on Council.  At least one professional member will therefore be elected from Scotland, England, Northern Ireland and Wales.

Commenting on the forthcoming election, current President and physiotherapist Professor Norma Brook said;

"It has been a privilege to be President during the last four years and I would like to encourage as many people as possible to consider standing for election as Council members come June.  They will find it a valuable, rewarding and interesting position to hold."

Health professionals interested in nominating an individual or standing for election themselves are encouraged to look at the HPC website for information regarding the original consultation on the scheme, feedback received and also the election scheme rules in full.  www.hpc-uk.org/election05