An independent body launched to promote the interests of the public in the regulation of the healthcare professions such as the GDC will now be known as the Council for Healthcare Regulatory Excellence (CHRE).

The group changed its name from the Council for the Regulation of Healthcare Professionals (CRHP) because it believed it better reflected the role and purpose of the UK-wide organisation and avoided possible confusion with bodies of a similar name.

The new name takes immediate effect and will be part of the Council's corporate identity to be officially launched with the publication of its first annual report to Parliament in the autumn. The Council was established on 1 April 2003 to promote the interests of the public and patients in the regulation of the healthcare professions, promote best practice in the regulation of the healthcare professions, develop principles for good professionally-led regulation and to promote co-operation between regulatory bodies and other organisations.

The CHRE is an overarching, independent body which oversees the regulatory work of nine organisations which includes the General Dental Council, the General Medical Council, the General Optical Council and the General Osteopathic Council.

Referrals of cases to court under Section 29 of the National Health Service Reform and Health Care Professions Act 2002 will for the time being be brought under the name of CRHP because this is currently the statutory name of the organisation.