College responds to consultation on fitness to practise and rulemaking guidance

Summary

We have commented on new draft guidance intended to support regulators in using their powers around fitness to practise and rulemaking, as part of the Government’s healthcare professional regulators reforms that could impact on the future of optical regulation.

We are broadly supportive of the introduction of a new Accepted Outcomes process to speed up fitness to practise cases, and reduce the stress, costs and time involved for all parties. However, we have recommended the benefit of having two case examiners – at least one who is a clinician – to deal with more complex clinical cases.

We are also supportive of a rulemaking process that aims to deliver a consistent and flexible system of regulation for health and care professionals across the UK. However, we have recommended that each regulator should be given enough flexibility to fulfil their functions and duties, and to adapt to the needs and specificities of each profession they are regulating.