Annual Healthcare Regulators’ Whistleblowing Report 2022 published

The General Optical Council (GOC) has published its annual whistleblowing report for 2022, alongside seven other healthcare regulators. 

Between 1 April 2021 and 31 March 2022, there were a total of ten whistleblowing disclosures raised to the GOC. 

All ten disclosures received were placed into our fitness to practise triage system for formal assessment, and of these, three progressed to a formal investigation. 

Of the seven remaining: 

• In one case, we were satisfied that the disclosure was already being investigated within an existing case and the matter was closed.  
• In three cases, we decided to close the matter as we had not received sufficient information to progress them any further. 
• In two cases, we identified that the concern was more appropriately dealt with at a local level and referred it accordingly.  
• One case is being monitored while we await the outcome of an internal investigation.  

In 2021, we published new ‘Speaking up’ guidance aimed at our registrants to help them address some of the difficulties they have encountered when speaking up, or when thinking of doing so. 

The Whistleblowing disclosures report 2022 is published jointly by the GOC, General Medical Council, General Chiropractic Council, General Dental Council, General Osteopathic Council, General Pharmaceutical Council, Health and Care Professions Council and the Nursing and Midwifery Council. 

Read Whistleblowing disclosures report 2022.