GOC appointees will be 'the best possible'

The Appointment Commission, which takes over the responsibility for appointments to the new GOC in 2009, has moved to allay fears that its involvement will result in the appointment of board members who do not command the support of the profession.

As reported in Optician, (March 21), the Council agreed at a meeting in Belfast to reduce the number of board members from 28 to 12, with a parity of professional and lay membership.

The decision was as a result of a government recommendation for healthcare regulatory councils to be smaller and more board-like and for appointments to be made by an external agency.