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.
GOC files that the CHRE audited contained sufficiently detailed records, it said, including detailed notes of telephone calls. 'During our audit we found evidence of the GOC sending helpful explanatory letters to parties involved in cases, which is consistent with our previous audit findings,' the report added. 'However we did find examples of where minor improvements could be made to consent forms and in communication with complainants and registrants.'
The CHRE's review included 42 cases that the GOC had closed at the initial stages over a six-month period.
In the initial stages of the FTP processes it is decided whether complaints received should be referred to a hearing, whether some other action should be taken, or whether they should be closed.
GOC chief executive and registrar Samantha Peters said: 'This report should provide assurance to both the public and registrants that we deal with complaints about registrants in a fair, effective and proportionate way.'