PDF version of Letter BCSRT & RTLBC Cayton Report Update 2019-6-3
May 31, 2019
Dear Members of the British Columbia Society of Respiratory Therapy
Re: Impact of Cayton Report on College of Diagnostic and Therapeutic Health Professions
Background:
• Going into this spring our remaining steps to completing the regulatory college were:
1. Posting for review of draft College Regulations, these go out for 90 days.
2. After a 90 day review the Ministry collates feedback & will make any change if required (minimal change is expected because of the large number of stakeholders already consulted).
3. Ministry signs off on regulations.
• Our umbrella college, “College of Diagnostic and Therapeutic Health Professions” was designated under the amendments to the Designation Regulation as a college over two years ago by the provincial cabinet. Although this was not the final step in implementation of a college, we are inches away.
Current Situation:
• The Provincial government commissioned an inquiry by Harry Cayton into the College of Dental Surgeons of BC, the report is now complete and titled “An Inquiry into the performance of Dental Surgeons of BC and the Health Professions Act” https://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/health/practitioner-pro/professional-regulation/cayton-report-college-of-dental-surgeons-2018.pdf. The two main concerns for Respiratory Therapy and our proposed umbrella college from the Cayton report are the recommendations:
1. Section 9.32 – moratorium on new colleges
2. Section 10.21 – no new colleges are formed
Assessment of the Cayton Report:
• Part One of Cayton report discussed the College of Dental Surgeons of BC. Concerns were identified and recommendations for improvement were listed.
• Part Two of Cayton report discusses regulation of all health professions. We are primarily concerned with sections 9.32 and 10.21. We agree with many of the recommendations in Part 2 plus our proposed College of Diagnostic and Therapeutic Health Professions already meets some of the most important recommendations:
o 9.27 Regulatory College is separate from our professional society, BCSRT
o 9.59 Increased Transparency (members of public on the college board)
o 10.7 Umbrella College with multiple professions
o 10.8 Single code of ethics for multiple professions
o 10.22 Assessment on risk of harm from occupations. All four professions going into our college were identified as high risk by the Ministry:
• In response to Part Two of the Cayton report, the provincial government has formed a Steering Committee composed of the Honourable Adrian Dix, Minister of Health, Mr. Norm Letnick, health critic for the official Opposition and Ms. Sonia Furstenau, health critic and house leader for the BC Green Party caucus. The Steering Committee has asked for input from the BCSRT and other stakeholders by June 14th.
o The BCSRT will submit a letter with other professions in the proposed College of Diagnostic and Therapeutic Health Professions. We are asking that the completion of our college is not delayed, list parts of the Cayton report that we agree with or already meet, and detail points that make each of our professions high risk.
o The Respiratory Therapy Leaders of British Columbia (RTLBC) will also submit a letter identifying restricted activities we perform and encouraging the quick completion of the College to ensure respiratory care is practiced safely and consistently across British Columbia.
o Some very important healthcare stakeholders have stated they will be submitting a recommendation that our regulatory college not be delayed.
• Although reading recommendations in sections 9.32 and 10.21 seems demoralizing, the Ministry is going to move forward in a way that best protects the patients, especially with high risk professions. The distinguished profile of members on the Steering Committee emphasizes the attention this report has brought to high risk professions and the goal of ensuring consistently competent professionals are performing high risk procedures. We expect the Steering Committee to move fairly quickly on the high risk portions of the Cayton report, recommendations from other portions of the report will probably take longer.
Moving Forward:
• The BCSRT and RTLBC will continue to monitor and share information through the BCSRT website and other social media platforms.
• If you have any questions, please work with your local member of the Respiratory Therapy Leaders of British Columbia or email president@BCSRT.com.
On behalf of the BCSRT and RTLBC,
Mike MacAulay (BCSRT President)
Tracey Miller (RTLBC Chair)
