But its powers will be considerably widened, allowing it to suspend a nurse's registration at any time or to impose conditions on practice. In addition it can apply a civil standard of proof in some circumstances rather than the criminal standard demanded at present. That seems unlikely. But it would be costly and carry the danger that ministers would get the blame every time a doctor or nurse stepped out of line. However, it is clear that professionals will no longer have exclusive responsibility for regulating themselves - they will have to work more closely with both politicians and the public.
Social workers have no regulatory body either, although plans are afoot to set up one.