The Alliance of UK Health Regulators on Europe (AURE), together with representatives of health regulators from across Europe, this week led a call for the European Commission to make patient safety a top priority in any new EU initiatives on patient and professional mobility.

Healthcare regulators from 16 EU Member States gathered in Helsinki, Finland, on 23 October to decide how best to share information about regulated healthcare workers with a disciplinary record who wish to practise in another European country.

Following the recently launched European Commission Consultation on Health Services, participants also called upon the Commission to work closely with all regulators to support them in sharing information that gives added assurance that registered healthcare workers are safe and fit to practise.

Pirjo Pennanen, Medical Counsellor, of the National Authority for Medicolegal Affairs, who hosted the meeting said:

"We are pleased that so many regulators, from so many countries, have taken the initiative to meet together, here in Helsinki during Finland's Presidency of the EU, to discuss patient safety in the European single market".

The European Commission is currently seeking to clarify EC rules making it easier for patients to gain treatment in another country and those that already enable health workers to practise in any European country.

In a climate where more health professionals are moving around Europe and potentially more patients seeking treatment abroad, regulators are keen to ensure they have access to a full record of information about anyone seeking professional registration from another European country.

Hugh Simpson, Convenor of AURE said:

"The vast majority of European healthcare professionals are conscientious, and safe practitioners. However, strengthening the basis for information sharing between competent authorities could help to protect patients from the small minority who pose a risk and seek to evade disciplinary action or regulatory control across the European Union."

This call follows agreement by European Ministers last year that all regulators will work more closely together to exchange information when regulated professionals want to register to practise in another European country.

It also builds on the Healthcare Professionals Crossing Borders initiative spearheaded by the UK Presidency of the EU in 2005, and now coordinated by the Alliance of UK Health Regulators on Europe (AURE). This brings most European health regulators together to collaborate on information exchange.

General Medical Council (UK)