Takeover date

The timetable for the transfer of the management of GOC fitness to practise hearings to a new independent government body has been outlined in two reports by the Department of Health.

Last August, the GOC detailed plans for joining the DoH's new independent adjudication body, the Office of Health Professionals Adjudicator (OHPA).

The reports, Tackling Concerns Nationally and Tackling Concerns Locally, published last Friday, examine how to take forward changes announced in the White Paper on social reform.

A consultation was also launched last Friday on the proposals for the principles and governance of this new body. It is anticipated that the OHPA will take over hearings by 2011.