GOC seeks feedback on fast-tracking FTP

Feedback is being sought from the profession by the General Optical Council (GOC) on potential rule changes designed to speed up the fitness to practise (FTP) process.

The current system, which the GOC acknowledged was beleaguered by antiquated procedures, means that some cases are not processed quickly enough. In its public paper on proposals to eradicate unnecessary delay in FTP processes, the GOC cited the 'absence of case management systems and insufficient staff numbers' as factors for this.

The Council recently agreed to a number of proposals made by its director of regulatory services David Howell to reduce the time taken in investigating cases from an average of 16 months (News 04.02.11). These included the introduction of a fast-track system for simple cases, an electronic case management system and a staff post to be reallocated to investigations.