If at a hearing, the committees decide that a registrant’s fitness to practise is impaired after making findings on factual allegations, they can impose sanctions on that registrant. The notion of impairment put simply means that on the basis of the matters provide against you, should the committee consider taking action on your registration.
The guidance used by the committee when considering what sanction to impose is available to download from our policies and procedures page.
Sanctions come into effect 28 days after the substantive hearing at which they were imposed unless an immediate order is imposed.
The registrant’s name is erased from the relevant register(s). The registrant cannot practise as an optometrist/dispensing optician, or in the case of student registrant, cannot continue with their training. If the individual’s name is removed from a specialty register, they cannot perform any duties associated with that specialty.
This sanction cannot be imposed if a registrant’s fitness to practise is found to be impaired because of adverse physical and/or mental health.
The registrant’s name is temporarily removed from the relevant register(s). The registrant cannot practise as an optometrist/dispensing optician, or in the case of student registrant, cannot continue with their training for the duration of the suspension.
If the individual is suspended from a specialty register, they may not perform any duties associated with that specialty for the duration of the suspension. The maximum suspension period is 12 months.
Once the suspension period has ended, a review hearing will be held to determine whether the registrant should remain suspended, or if other sanctions should be imposed. During this hearing, the committee will expect to receive evidence to demonstrate any deficiencies have been addressed and the practitioner has insight based on the first committee’s findings.
The Committee can determine a registrant can stay on the relevant register providing they comply with certain conditions, such as undertaking extra training. Conditions can also be used to restrict an area of practice and/or prevent a practitioner from carrying out certain tasks.
A financial penalty of no more than £50,000 can be imposed on a registrant. Committee will specify the length of time in which this must be paid. If the penalty is not paid, the Council may take court action to recover the full amount. If a registrant’s fails to pay their fine, it is reported to the Investigation Committee for further action.
If the hearings panel decide that a registrant’s fitness to practise is not impaired, they may choose to issue the registrant with a warning about their future conduct or performance. Any warning will be placed on the practitioner’s record and is disclosable.
