FTP audit recommends minor improvements

An audit of the General Optical Council's fitness to practise (FTP) process has raised no concerns but found some room for improvement when it came to communication.

The Council for Healthcare Regulatory Excellence (CHRE) audit had no concerns about any of the decisions made to close cases at the initial stages of the FTP process. The GOC was praised for providing 'detailed and well-reasoned decision letters' following consideration of its cases, but there had been administrative errors in communicating two cases.

The audit also found delays in keeping complainants and registrants updated on the progress of cases, acknowledging correspondence and taking follow-up action to progress cases.