The GOsC Annual Report 2024: A Personal Reflection on My First Year

I am pleased to announce that the 2024 General Osteopathic Council (GOsC) Annual Report has been laid in Parliament, marking an important annual milestone for our organisation. As this is my first annual report at the GOsC, I wanted to take a moment to reflect on the year, share a few insights, and hopefully keep things interesting along the way.

A New Perspective

This is my first experience working in the healthcare sector, having spent the previous 23 years of my career working across various sectors (including insurance, charity, manufacturing, and financial services), which I hope allows me to bring valuable and wide-ranging experience to my role here. I understand the challenges and opportunities faced by regulated professions, and I’m eager to apply this knowledge to support the osteopathic profession in delivering high-quality care to patients.

The Significance of the Annual Report

The Annual Report is more than just a formal document; it’s our way of being transparent about what we’ve achieved over the past year and how we’re working to maintain and improve the standards of osteopathy in the UK. Our work is scrutinised by Parliament before being published, but apart from that we are also accountable to both the profession and the public.

What your registration fees contribute towards

One thing that I know can be a concern for osteopaths is how registration fees are spent. I understand that transparency in this area is crucial. This year’s report includes a detailed breakdown of how fees are spent to deliver public protection and public confidence, presented through clear and accessible infographics.

I am pleased to report that registration fees have been maintained at their current level for the tenth year in a row, despite rising costs in that period. Taking into account inflation, the headline fee of £570 per year would have risen by around 33% to £758 since 2014. All of us at GOsC appreciate that the rising cost of living is a very real thing, which is why we are striving to manage our own costs more proficiently every day, which in turn will keep the registration fee at its current level for as long as possible.

The Value Proposition infographic on page 27 of the report provides a visual representation of our spend, showing how your fees contribute to three essential components of our work: ensuring public protection, developing the profession and delivering robust governance. The report explains what we mean by each of these components in detail in case you’re interested.

Looking Forward

As I look back on my first year at GOsC, I’m proud of the progress we’ve made and excited about what’s to come. The Annual Report is a testament to the hard work of our small team and the dedication of osteopaths across the UK. I’m looking forward to continuing this journey with all of you and seeing how we can further strengthen and support the profession. 

Thank you for your continued dedication to providing excellent and high-quality care to your patients. I’m looking forward to another successful year ahead! 

Read the full GOsC Annual Report 2024 

Darllenwch y fersiwn Gymraeg o Adroddiad Blynyddol a Chyfrifon 2023-24