The Authority has filed an appeal against the decision of the Fitness to Practise Committee of the General Optical Council (‘the Committee’) to suspend Ms Honey Rose for a period of nine months, having found her, in summary, guilty of failing to carry out adequate eye examinations in respect of two children, Patients A and B, and dishonestly making an inaccurate and misleading record in relation to her examination of Patient A. The Committee decided not to order a review of the Registrant before the end of the period of suspension.
The Authority has referred the matter to the High Court due to its concern that the decision was not sufficient to protect the public. Specifically, the Authority is of the view that the General Optical Council failed to properly charge Ms Rose with certain allegations, the Committee took the wrong approach to impairment and sanction, and the Committee wrongly decided not to require a review before the conclusion of the period of suspension. Accordingly, the Authority is asking the Court to quash the findings made by the Committee in relation to misconduct, impairment and sanction, and remit the case back to the Committee for reconsideration. Information about the Authority’s power to appeal decisions made by regulatory bodies can be found on our website.
The Authority asks members of the press and public to respect the privacy of Ms Rose and the family of Patient A whilst these proceedings are ongoing. In accordance with its usual practice, the Authority will not be providing any further comment on the proceedings during this time.
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Contact: media@professionalstandards.org.uk
Notes to the editor
- The Professional Standards Authority for Health and Social Care oversees 10 statutory bodies that regulate health and social care professionals in the UK.
- We assess their performance and report to Parliament. We also conduct audits and investigations and can appeal fitness to practise cases to the courts if we consider that sanctions are insufficient to protect the public and it is in the public interest. Find out more about our power to appeal here.
- The Standards of Good Regulation are designed to ensure that the regulators are protecting the public but also promoting confidence in health and care professionals and themselves. The Standards cover the regulators’ four core functions: setting and promoting guidance and standards for the profession; setting standards for and quality assuring the provision of education and training; maintaining a register of professionals; and taking action where a professional’s fitness to practise may be impaired. There is also a set of General Standards.
- We also set standards for organisations holding voluntary registers for health and social care occupations and accredit those that meet them.
- We share good practice and knowledge, conduct research and introduce new ideas to our sector. We monitor policy developments in the UK and internationally and provide advice on issues relating to professional standards in health and social care.
- We do this to promote the health, safety and wellbeing of users of health and social care services and the public. We are an independent body, accountable to the UK Parliament.
- Our values are – integrity, transparency, respect, fairness and teamwork – and we strive to ensure that they are at the core of our work.
- More information about our work and the approach we take is available at www.professionalstandards.org.uk