SIC 86.90 25,575 enterprises in the UK
Other human health activities
What this covers (20 activity descriptions)
- Ambulance service
- Anti-doping control
- Artificial kidney unit
- Artificial limb and appliance centre
- Blood banks
- Blood transfusion service
- Chiropodist (NHS)
- Chiropodist (private)
- Chiropractor clinic (own account)
- Clinic (health service)
- Collection of female human urine for hormone extraction
- Colon Hydrotherapy
- Community health service
- Community medical service clinics
- Community psychiatric nurse (NHS)
- Dental hygienist
- Dental therapist
- Disablement services centres
- District nurse
- Echography
What you must comply with
Unique to other human health activities
HCPC registration (allied health professions)
Mandatory for physiotherapists, occupational therapists, radiographers, paramedics, dietitians, speech therapists, biomedical scientists, clinical scientists, and other regulated professions. Renewal every 2 years with CPD evidence. Criminal offence to use protected title without registration.
GOC registration (optometry and dispensing optics)
All practising optometrists and dispensing opticians must be GOC registered. Business registrants (optical bodies corporate) must also register. GOC conducts fitness to practise investigations.
GPhC registration (pharmacy professionals)
Mandatory for pharmacists and pharmacy technicians in Great Britain. Pharmacy premises must also be registered. Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland (PSNI) regulates in Northern Ireland.
Pharmacy premises registration
Each pharmacy premises must be separately registered with GPhC. Responsible pharmacist must be present during opening hours. Annual GPhC inspection against pharmacy standards.
NMC registration (community nursing and midwifery)
Applies to community nurses, health visitors, district nurses, midwives, and nursing associates providing services outside hospitals. Revalidation every 3 years. Covers independent nursing and midwifery practices.
Ambulance and patient transport CQC registration
Independent ambulance services and patient transport providers must register with CQC for 'transport services, triage and medical advice provided remotely'. Includes private ambulance, medical repatriation, and event medical services.
Applies to all other human health activities
CQC registration for regulated activities
Mandatory for all providers of regulated activities in England. Equivalent regulators: HIW (Wales), HIS (Scotland), RQIA (Northern Ireland).
DBS checks for healthcare staff
Enhanced DBS with barred list check required for all staff in regulated activity with children or vulnerable adults. Recheck recommended every 3 years. Access NI equivalent in Northern Ireland; Disclosure Scotland (PVG scheme) in Scotland.
Professional indemnity insurance
All registered providers must have appropriate indemnity arrangements. Individual practitioners may hold cover via professional body membership or separate policy.
Clinical waste disposal duty of care
Clinical waste is controlled waste. Must use licensed waste carriers and maintain consignment notes for hazardous waste. Separate regimes: SEPA (Scotland), NRW (Wales), DAERA (Northern Ireland).
Health data protection (special category data)
Health data is special category data under UK GDPR Article 9. Requires explicit consent or other lawful basis. Data Protection Impact Assessment required for high-risk processing.
Safeguarding duties (children and adults)
Duty to safeguard and promote welfare of children (s11 Children Act 2004). Duty to report safeguarding concerns for adults at risk (Care Act 2014). Must have designated safeguarding lead and policies.
Infection prevention and control
CQC Regulation 12 requires safe care including IPC measures. Must have IPC policy, designated IPC lead, hand hygiene protocols, and environmental cleanliness standards.
Employers' liability insurance
Required for all employers. Sole practitioners with no employees exempt.
Guidance for this activity
Running clinical trials in the UK
How to get MHRA authorisation for clinical trials of investigational medicinal products (CTIMPs). Covers combined review process, GCP requirements, safety reporting, informed consent, and upcoming 2026 regulatory changes.
Read guideHealthcare professional registration requirements
Registration requirements with GMC, NMC, GDC, GPhC, and HCPC for healthcare employers and professionals.
Read guideHealthcare premises and equipment requirements
CQC Regulation 15 premises and equipment requirements, radiation protection under IRR 2017, healthcare ventilation, medical gas systems, decontamination of reusable devices, accessibility obligations, and fire safety for healthcare premises.
Read guideHealthcare regulation across the UK nations
Comparison reference for healthcare regulation in England (CQC), Scotland (HIS and Care Inspectorate), Wales (HIW and CIW), and Northern Ireland (RQIA). Covers registration, inspection frameworks, workforce registration, and key differences between the four nations.
Read guideMHRA authorisation for medicines and medical devices
How to obtain MHRA authorisation for medicines and medical devices in the UK. Covers Marketing Authorisations, wholesale dealer licences, manufacturer licences, and medical device registration including UKCA vs CE marking.
Read guideClinical governance and quality improvement
Clinical governance framework for healthcare providers covering patient safety culture, clinical audit, incident investigation, duty of candour, complaints handling, and continuous quality improvement. Links governance activities to the CQC Well-led domain and explains why effective governance protects both patients and your organisation.
Read guideHealthcare provider annual compliance checklist
Annual checklist of recurring compliance obligations for CQC-registered healthcare providers covering registration, workforce, clinical governance, premises, data protection, and policy reviews.
Read guideRegister with the Care Quality Commission (CQC)
Complete step-by-step guide to CQC registration for healthcare providers in England, including what activities require registration, application fees, fit and proper person requirements, and the full registration process timeline.
Read guideMedicines and controlled drugs compliance
Legal requirements for handling, storing and administering medicines including controlled drugs in healthcare settings.
Read guideSafeguarding and mental capacity in healthcare
Legal duties for safeguarding vulnerable adults and making decisions for people who lack mental capacity.
Read guideMedical devices: placing on the GB market
How to comply with the UK Medical Devices Regulations 2002 when placing medical devices on the Great Britain market. Covers device classification, UKCA marking transition timelines, MHRA registration, essential requirements, clinical evidence, conformity assessment by device class, post-market surveillance, and Unique Device Identification.
Read guideInfection prevention and control for healthcare providers
How to meet infection prevention and control (IPC) requirements under the Health and Social Care Act 2008 Code of Practice (Hygiene Code). Covers standard precautions, environmental cleaning, outbreak management, antimicrobial stewardship, and CQC inspection expectations.
Read guideHealthcare and social care regulation (CQC)
CQC registration requirements for health and social care providers in England, including detailed guidance on regulated activities, costs, and devolved nation alternatives.
Read guideNHS Data Security and Protection Toolkit compliance
How to complete the NHS Data Security and Protection Toolkit (DSPT) annual self-assessment if you handle NHS patient data. Covers Version 7 requirements, evidence gathering, submission process, and achieving Standards Met status.
Read guideStart a clinical laboratory service
How to set up and operate a clinical laboratory in the UK. Covers UKAS accreditation, CQC registration, HTA licensing, MHRA requirements, professional registration, and quality standards for medical testing services.
Read guideSocial care registration and regulators
Guide to registering as a social care provider across all four UK nations. Covers CQC registration in England, Care Inspectorate in Scotland, CIW in Wales, and RQIA in Northern Ireland — including fees, registered manager requirements, and inspection frameworks.
Read guideData protection for healthcare providers
How healthcare providers must handle patient data under UK GDPR, including special category health data requirements, Caldicott Principles, the common law duty of confidentiality, and record retention requirements.
Read guideMHRA licensing for medicines and medical devices
MHRA licensing requirements for manufacturing, distributing, and importing medicines and medical devices in the UK.
Read guideAI medical device compliance
MHRA requirements for AI as a Medical Device (AIaMD) and Software as a Medical Device (SaMD). Covers classification, registration, technical documentation, quality management, post-market surveillance, and data protection for health AI.
Read guideMedical device compliance checklist
Verification checklist for medical device manufacturers and UK Responsible Persons. Covers device classification, conformity assessment, technical documentation, UKCA/CE marking, MHRA registration, PMS system, vigilance reporting, labelling, and ongoing obligations.
Read guide