General Optical Council

What does it do?
The Investigation Committee investigates allegations that:

a) a registered optometrist’s or a registered dispensing optician’s fitness to practise is impaired;
b) a business registrant’s fitness to carry on business as an optometrist or a dispensing optician (or both) is impaired; or
c) a student registrant’s fitness to undertake training as an optometrist or a dispensing optician is impaired.

They decide whether an allegation should be referred to the Fitness to Practise Committee, and if not, what the next course of action should be.

How often does it meet? 
The Investigation Committee is scheduled to meet ten times in 2010. View the dates of the Investigation Committee meetings for 2010.

Who are the members of the Investigation Committee?
The Investigation Committee is made up of a combination of professional members (who have an optical qualification) and lay members (who do not).

Lay members: James Kellock (Chair), Stuart Heatherington, Michael Yates

Optometrists: Lisa Gerson, Kamlesh Gohil, Paul Hutchence

Dispensing opticians: Keith Cavaye, Michelle Derbyshire

Medical practitioner (ophthalmologist): Stuart Roxburgh

From 1 June 2010, when the Investigation Committee is considering each complaint, members will refer to the relevant guidance.  
 
The Investigation Committee will consider any additional written representations made by a registrant who:

1. Is involved in a complaint that is scheduled to be considered by the Investigation Committee in June or July 2010;
2. Had sent in their written representations to the GOC either before this guidance was published or before they became aware of its publication;
3. Wishes to make additional representations in light of the publication of this guidance.

Any such additional representations must be received by the GOC at least 1 week before the date of the Committee meeting at which the complaint is due to be considered.

Information about what actions the Investigation Committee can take about a complaint are available from the Investigating complaints section of our website.