Complementary and Natural Healthcare Council launched
The Complementary and Natural Healthcare Council (CNHC) was established in April 2008. It heralds a completely new approach to the regulation of complementary therapies in the UK. It builds on the excellent work already undertaken by many of the professional bodies within complementary and natural heath care. Upholding the highest professional standards, the creation of the CNHC will provide a boost to consumer confidence and public trust which will in turn benefit all practitioners. Significantly, the roles of the professional associations and the regulatory body are now separated in order to give increased clarity of function.

The key function of the regulator (CNHC) is to ensure public protection. This will be achieved by driving up standards set by the professions themselves; ensuring access to continuing professional development for all practitioners; and providing a route for enquiries about complementary therapy practitioners, and, if necessary, for making a complaint about a practitioner.

The key function of the professional associations will be to continue to provide support for the practitioners themselves. This will be achieved variously in the form of standard setting, provision of courses, CPD and a range of other support. It is expected that practitioners will wish to be registered with the CNHC and also continue to benefit from membership of a professional association.

For further details see: http://www.cnhc.org.uk/index.html The Complementary and Natural Healthcare Council.