Professional Standards Authority

23/02/2026

We welcome the Women and Equalities Committee’s call for faster action to introduce a licensing scheme for non-surgical cosmetic procedures within this Parliament.

The Committee’s report describes the current system as a “wild west” and calls for stronger, UK‑wide alignment. We have long highlighted the need for a consistent approach to better protect the public.

In our written evidence to the inquiry, we set out the gaps in public protection and urged the Government to move forward with its licensing plans as soon as possible.

While this work progresses, we advise the public to choose practitioners on one of the two PSA‑accredited registers:
✔️ Save Face
✔️ JCCP

Look for the PSA Quality Mark to check whether a practitioner is registered.

Read our full statement here:
https://www.professionalstandards.org.uk/news-and-updates/news/psa-responds-women-and-equalities-committee-report-cosmetic-procedures

20/02/2026

Mae'r ystadegau hyn yn adlewyrchu rhai o'r heriau sy'n wynebu iechyd a gofal cymdeithasol yng Nghymru.

Heddiw rydym yn cyhoeddi 'Gofal mwy diogel i Gymru – Maniffesto ar gyfer newid', gan nodi'r camau gweithredu yr ydym yn credu y dylai Llywodraeth nesaf Cymru eu cymryd i gryfhau diogelwch ar draws iechyd a gofal cymdeithasol.

Mae Cymru'n wynebu pwysau sylweddol o swyddi gwag cynyddol yn y gweithlu i bryderon cynyddol ynghylch diogelwch cleifion. Gall rheoleiddio proffesiynol chwarae rhan hanfodol wrth fynd i'r afael â'r heriau hyn a chefnogi system sy'n atal niwed, yn dysgu o gamgymeriadau, ac yn amddiffyn y cyhoedd.

Mae ein maniffesto yn tynnu sylw at dair blaenoriaeth ar gyfer Llywodraeth nesaf Cymru:

✓Mynd i'r afael ag argyfwng y gweithlu iechyd a gofal

Trwy adeiladu strategaeth reoleiddio gadarn sy'n cefnogi cynllunio'r gweithlu, mynd i'r afael ag anghydraddoldebau, a chryfhau rôl Cofrestrau Achrededig.

✓ Cau'r bylchau diogelwch

Trwy ymestyn trwyddedu i driniaethau cosmetig anfeddygol a defnyddio dysgu o adolygiadau i ysgogi newid ystyrlon.

✓ Cefnogi rheoleiddio i wella diwylliant y gweithle a galluogi dull ataliol

Mae system ataliol, dosturiol yn dibynnu ar arweinyddiaeth dryloyw, atebolrwydd clir a'r cydbwysedd cywir rhwng cyfrifoldebau cyflogwyr a rheoleiddwyr.

Darllenwch y maniffesto yma: https://cy.professionalstandards.org.uk/newyddion-a-diweddariadau/newyddion/closing-safety-gaps-must-be-priority-next-welsh-government-says-healthcare #

20/02/2026

These statistics reflect some of the challenges facing health and social care in Wales.

Today we are publishing 'Safer care for Wales – A manifesto for change', setting out the action we believe the next Welsh Government should take to strengthen safety across health and social care.

Wales faces significant pressures from rising workforce vacancies to increasing concerns about patient safety. Professional regulation can play a vital role in meeting these challenges and supporting a system that prevents harm, learns from mistakes, and protects the public.

Our manifesto highlights three priorities for the next Welsh Government:

✓Tackle the health and care workforce crisis

By building a robust regulatory strategy that supports workforce planning, addressing inequalities, and strengthening the role of Accredited Registers.

✓ Close the safety gaps

By extending licensing to non-surgical cosmetic procedures and using learning from reviews to drive meaningful change.

✓Support regulation to improve workplace culture and enable a preventative approach

A preventative, compassionate system relies on transparent leadership, clear accountability and the right balance between employer and regulator responsibilities.

Read the manifesto here: www.professionalstandards.org.uk/news-and-updates/news/closing-safety-gaps-must-be-priority-next-welsh-government-says-healthcare

18/02/2026

We have published our new manifestos for Wales and Scotland ahead of the elections on 7 May 2026.

Both set out how the next Welsh and Scottish Governments can close safety gaps — and how professional regulation can improve safety, workforce resilience and health outcomes.

Our key messages:

• Tackling the workforce crisis
A clear regulatory strategy is needed to help manage safety risks with workforce shortages. We also want a level playing field for the Accredited Registers programme to unlock potential amongst the unregulated workforce, particularly in critical areas like mental health and healthcare science.

• Closing the safety gap
The risk of unsafe, unregulated non‑surgical cosmetic procedures and wider safety concerns across the system show the need for change. We recommend introducing licensing for non‑surgical cosmetics and strengthening how lessons from major reviews and inquiries are turned into action.

• Improving culture and prevention
There are significant health inequalities in Wales and Scotland. Staff can face barriers when speaking up about care failures. We urge accelerated reform of healthcare professional regulators' powers, to support government goals including prevention, and a review of accountability arrangements for senior leaders and managers.

Safer care for Wales: A manifesto for change ➡️www.professionalstandards.org.uk/publications/safer-care-wales-manifesto-change

Safer care for Scotland: A manifesto for change➡️www.professionalstandards.org.uk/publications/safer-care-scotland-manifesto-change

17/02/2026

We are pleased to announce our ninth annual 'Regulatory developments and the Welsh context seminar', jointly hosted with the Welsh Government.

📅 27 March 2026
🕙 10:00–13:00

This year we will explore how regulation can support a preventative healthcare approach in Wales.

The seminar will look at:
• How insights from communities across Wales can drive improvements in care
• How NHS Wales, the system, and professional regulators can strengthen local accountability through collaboration
• How AI can be used to enhance prevention


To express your interest, please email us at engagement@professionalstandards.org.uk
...

Rydym yn falch o gyhoeddi ein nawfed seminar blynyddol 'Datblygiadau rheoleiddio a'r cyd-destun Cymreig', a gynhelir ar y cyd â Llywodraeth Cymru.

📅 27 Mawrth 2026
🕙 10:00–13:00

Eleni byddwn yn archwilio sut y gall rheoleiddio gefnogi dull gofal iechyd ataliol yng Nghymru.

Bydd y seminar yn edrych ar:
• Sut y gall mewnwelediadau o gymunedau ledled Cymru sbarduno gwelliannau mewn gofal
• Sut y gall GIG Cymru, y system, a rheoleiddwyr proffesiynol gryfhau atebolrwydd lleol trwy gydweithio
• Sut y gellir defnyddio deallusrwydd artiffisial i wella atal

I fynegi eich diddordeb, anfonwch e-bost atom yn engagement@professionalstandards.org.uk

16/02/2026

What can the PSA offer in 2026?

Last year saw progress on several longstanding issues — from the announcement of a new barring scheme for NHS managers in England, to developments in NHS England’s leadership and management framework. It was a year of momentum and change.

So what comes next?

With our bird’s‑eye view across health and care regulation, we will continue to turn insight into action. In 2026, we will:

• support regulatory reform that balances accountability and flexibility
• expand our work on preventative approaches using data and insights
• introduce new Standards for regulators and Accredited Registers, including clearer expectations on leadership, governance and culture
• bring stakeholders together to coordinate action on prevailing issues, including regulating for Artificial Intelligence through our Regulatory Data and AI Group

This year will be one of action, collaboration and innovation — and we are ready to play our part.

Read our full blog on what lies ahead: www.professionalstandards.org.uk/news-and-updates/news/what-lies-ahead-2026-calm-year-or-wild-ride

January always feels like stepping onto a fairground ride.

12/02/2026

We have published the latest minutes from the Nursing and Midwifery Council - NMC Independent Oversight Group.

The Government asked us to establish this Group to oversee and support the NMC’s response to serious concerns about its culture and governance.

In this meeting, the Group discussed:
• An update on the Fitness to Practise improvement plan
• How often the Group should meet in future

Read the full minutes here:
www.professionalstandards.org.uk/publications/nursing-and-midwifery-council-independent-oversight-group-updates

09/02/2026

A collaborative, cross‑sector approach to AI regulation is essential — particularly given the complex and fragmented regulatory landscape across health and social care.

In our response last month, to the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology’s AI Growth Lab open call for evidence, we highlighted the importance of bringing sectors together.

A Lab of this kind could create valuable opportunities to share learning, spot emerging risks, highlight good practice, and address systemic issues that individual regulators may miss. This would strengthen understanding of both risks and opportunities, and support more preventative, risk‑based regulation — principles at the heart of the PSA’s Right‑touch regulation approach.

Read our full response here:
https://www.professionalstandards.org.uk/publications/response-department-science-innovation-and-technology-ai-growth-lab-open-call-evidence

05/02/2026

Did you have a chance to watch this clip of John Jenkins, Honorary Professor at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI), discuss the role regulators can play to enable and encourage interprofessional working?

Watch below 👇

04/02/2026

AI in health and social care: what should we be looking out for?

We spoke with Emma Garrick, Chief Executive Officer of the National Council for Integrative Psychotherapists, to hear her views on the role of artificial intelligence in health and social care.

Watch the video to learn about the opportunities AI could bring, and the potential risks we need to consider.

AI in health and social care: what should we be looking out for?We spoke with Emma Garrick, Chief Executive Officer of the National Council for Integrative P...

02/02/2026

🗞️ Our January 2026 PSA email update is now live.

In this edition, we share our latest work to support patient safety and public protection, including:

- Performance reviews of the General Medical Council (GMC) and General Dental Council
- Our recent responses, including our submission to the NHS 10 Year Work Plan call for evidence, where we set out the value of regulation in managing risk
- Key insights from our 2025 Research Conference – including the human impact of regulation and complaints, as well as addressing sexual misconduct
- PSA appearances at key UK and international events
- Opportunities to share your feedback on Accredited Registers, including DVACT-PAI and JCCP (by 20 February 2026)

👉 Read the full January 2026 update – and find links to all our newsletters and updates here: www.professionalstandards.org.uk/news-and-updates/news/e-newsletter-standard

If you find it useful, please share it with colleagues or networks who may be interested.

30/01/2026

As we step into 2026, will it be a calm year or a wild ride for health and care regulation?

In her latest blog, PSA Chair, Caroline Corby, looks back at key milestones from 2025, including the new barring scheme for NHS managers in England, our updated Right-touch regulation framework, and growing action on under-regulated areas.

Caroline also sets out what’s ahead for the PSA in 2026 including:
• supporting regulatory reform that balances accountability and flexibility
• exploring preventative approaches to regulation using data and insights
• introducing new Standards for regulators and Accredited Registers
• Bringing stakeholders together for a coordinated approach to issues such as Artificial Intelligence
• Beginning to deliver on our 2026–29 Strategic Plan

This year promises to be one of action, collaboration, and innovation. From implementing new schemes to driving reform and promoting safer choices, the PSA is ready to contribute.

Read the full blog here: https://www.professionalstandards.org.uk/news-and-updates/news/what-lies-ahead-2026-calm-year-or-wild-ride