Francis Inquiry on GOC agenda

Members of the General Optical Council discussed the implications of the Francis Inquiry for the regulator at a quarterly meeting last week.

The inquiry's emphasis on candour and openness were deemed particularly important, and the GOC would consider whether registrants needed more detailed guidance on raising concerns. Other issues of importance included how complaints were handled and whether the GOC should do more to increase public awareness of its role.

GOC chief executive and registrar Samantha Peters said: 'Although our registrants were not directly implicated in the Mid-Staffs scandal, there are lessons for all healthcare regulators.'

The GOC has also launched a consultation on guidance relating to its fitness to practise (FTP) process that will run for the next 12 weeks. It surrounds FTP Rule 16 guidance, on the review and possible cancellation of a case previously referred to the fitness to practise committee. The GOC said Rule 16 would usually be applied when new evidence or information came to light prior to a scheduled FTP hearing.