The updated Enforcement Policy Statement explains how GOsC decide whether to take enforcement action against a person who is not on its Register.

GOsC Director of Fitness to Practise, Sheleen McCormack, said:

‘We consider the amendments to our Enforcement Policy Statement enhance, but not alter, our approach. Our aim is to ensure that the principles and the approach we take to protect the osteopathic title from unlawful use remains relevant, clear and transparent.’

It is a criminal offence for people to describe themselves as an osteopath if they are not on the GOsC Register. GOsC wrote on its website that:

“…the Enforcement Policy which was introduced in 2014. While the policy remained current, we considered that it could be enhanced by, for example, adding examples of successful prosecutions we have brought in the past.

“We also identified that some references in the policy needed to be updated, and most notably, that the policy needed to include the amendments made by the Health and Social Care (Safety and Quality) Act 2015 which added the overarching objective of the protection of the public in the exercise of our functions.” 

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