11th April 2005
News Release
Health Professions Council Announces Election Nominees

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 need to be nominated by six fellow health professionals all of whom must be on the same part of the HPC register.  

The Health Professions Council (HPC) has announced the nominees for the Council election. The Electoral Reform Services, who are running the election on behalf of the HPC, received a total of 74 nominations with 376 supporters.

Nominations have been received from all four Home Counties, ensuring representation as required by the Health Professions Order 2001. Six nominations were received from Scotland, six from Wales and fifty eight were received from England. One nomination was received from Northern Ireland, meaning Stephen McConnell will automatically be elected to Council. The HPC received three invalid nominations and 12 late nominations.

The definitive list of unopposed professions that have secured a place on Council are as follows:

Registrant Members
Diane Waller, Arts therapist
Helen Davis, Orthoptists
Anna Van Der Gaag, Speech and language therapist
Morag MacKellar, Dietitian
Stephen McConnell, Operating department practitioner

Alternate Members
Mark Woolcock, Paramedic
Daisy Haggerty, Clinical scientist
Gill Pearson, Dietitian
Fiona Taylor, Radiographer
Alan Mount, Operating department Practitioner
Ozon Altay, Prosthetist & orthotist
Fiona Taylor, Radiographer

Nominations were not received for the alternate members for speech and language therapists, occupational therapists and orthoptists. For this reason the nomination process has been reopened for these three vacancies only. Nominations close on the 26th April. The polling date for the elections for all vacancies will remain on the 20th May 2005.

The remaining nominations were opposed and will therefore stand for election. A full list of nominees can be found in the notes to editors at the end of this release.

Marc Seale, Chief Executive and Registrar said "I am delighted we received so many nominations, it shows how keen registrants are to be part of shaping HPC's future through the development of policies and strategy. I am looking forward to welcoming the new Council when they meet for the first time in on the 11th July."