College of Optometrists

2 August 2010 Return to news listings

The Department of Health announced last week in a written statement that it would not pursue further plans to transfer the adjudication of fitness to practise cases for the General Medical Council (GMC) and the General Optical Council (GOC) to the Office of the Health Professions Adjudicator (OHPA).

The transfer of the GOC’s hearings was expected totake place in2012 following the transfer of GMChearings in April 2011.

Responding to the statement, GOC Chief Executive and Registrar, Dian Taylor, said:“We have had very fruitful discussions with OHPA as to the futureshape of the hearings process, and the Council was impressed with the ideas presented to it by the OHPA chair, Walter Merricks, at its June meeting in Birmingham. As outlined in the GOC’s strategic plan 2010-15, the Council is committed to enhancing and modernising its fitness to practise processes to ensure maximum efficiency and cost-effectiveness. We will now take on board the ideas generated bythe discussion with OHPA, and look to embed those in our hearings process going forward”.

The Council will be consulting on proposed changes to its FTP processes in the autumn.