CORU and Regulation of Professionals

CORU is Ireland’s multi-profession health regulator responsible for regulating health and social care professionals. It includes the Health and Social Care Professionals Council and the Registration Boards established under the Health and Social Care Professionals Act 2005 (as amended).

CORU has several objectives but its broad aim is to protect the public by regulating health and social care professionals and ensure quality of care.  They set standards of proficiency for members in each profession and standards of education programmes for such professions.   They maintain a register of professions which the public can search and view.  They also conduct Fitness to Practise hearings in to the conduct and competence of a registered professional.

May people assume that CORU is an acronym but in fact it does not stand for anything, rather it originates from the rom an Irish word, ‘cóir’, which means fair, just and proper and this aligns with the values and aims of the organisation.

What professions are included

Currently CORU regulates:

• Dietitians
• Dispensing opticians
• Medical scientists
• Occupational therapists
• Optometrists
• Physical therapists
• Physiotherapists
• Podiatrists/Chiropodists
• Radiographers/radiation therapists
• Social care workers
• Social workers
• Speech and language therapists

Extension to Other Professions

 Work is currently underway to extend the remit of CORU to regulate the following professions:

• Psychologists
• Counsellors
• Psychotherapists
• Clinical Biochemists
• Orthoptists

Professional Negligence

Each professional body sets standards for their member’s work. CORU regulates a professional and ensures their members uphold the relevant standards of their members in a similar way to the Medical Council for Doctors or Dental Council for Dentists.

However, in addition where an injury has been caused to a person due to professional negligence of one of these professions regulated by CORU then there may be a possibility of bringing a case for professional negligence in order to obtain compensation for those injuries.

In order to prove that any professional is negligent, it is necessary to establish that no reasonable competent professional, in the relevant field, at the relevant time, with the same qualifications and expertise, faced with the same circumstances, would have acted in the same way.

If it is possible to show that a reasonable and competent body of professional opinion would have acted in the same way, then the advice/action is not considered negligent.

If negligence is established, it is also necessary to establish what is known as causation.  This links the professional negligence (if established) with the ultimate outcome.  In other words, it needs to be established that but for the error on the part of the professional, the adverse outcome would not have occurred.  If this cannot be proven, there is no case in professional negligence.

We at Cantillons Solicitors have experience of acting for clients in a large variety of professional negligence cases and can advise accordingly.  These cases are often complex and it is important to ensure that you consult a solicitor with the necessary expertise and experience for your query.

Contact us at Cantillons Solicitors at +353 (0)21 4275673 or info@cantillons.com if you would like more information.

*“In contentious business, a solicitor may not calculate fees or other charges as a percentage or proportion of any award or settlement.”