Looking to the future

By Tim Walker, Chief Executive and Registrar designate

It is a great privilege for me to be joining the General Osteopathic Council as its third Chief Executive and Registrar since its establishment in 1997. And as I take up the reins I would like to pay tribute to Evlynne Gilvarry for her work over the past three years and, on behalf of the GOsC, wish her well in her new role as Chief Executive of the General Dental Council.

One of my first priorities will be to develop my understanding of osteopathy and osteopaths. I don’t think it is possible to be a credible and effective regulator unless you are in touch with the day-to-day concerns of individual registrants. So in my first few months in post I hope to get out of Osteopathy House to start to meet osteopaths in their working environment and at events, and also to meet the registrants of the future as they undertake their training.

Regulation has been a fairly constant theme of my working life: in engineering, agriculture and food, broadcasting and, most recently, medicine in my work at the General Medical Council. The common theme of nearly all of this work has been public protection and it is only right that this should be the key role of the GOsC. But I also believe strongly that effective regulation serves to enhance the professional standing of osteopaths not just in the eyes of patients but among other healthcare professionals too.

When I look at the work that the GOsC is undertaking, whether in setting the standards in the Code of Practice, quality assuring Osteopathic Educational Institutions, prosecuting those who abuse the title of osteopath, supporting research or preparing for the introduction of revalidation, I have been impressed by two things. First, that as a regulator it has been both innovative and forward looking, and second, that it has been ably served by its staff team, and the professional and lay members of the Council and committees.

I also think that the GOsC has been successful at engaging with the profession, but equally I am sure that there is more we can do. So I am pleased that work is progressing well to enhance our online services for osteopaths, which will allow us to improve our communication with them and to provide a more streamlined service.

Last year we set out an ambitious programme of work in our Corporate Plan which aims to ensure that we continue to develop our role and continue to be an effective regulator. I know that all this work comes at a price and that the cost is borne by registrants through their fees. That is why I am committed to ensuring that we are vigilant in our use of resources particularly in the current difficult economic climate.

In conclusion, as interest in studying, practising, researching (and receiving) osteopathy continues to develop, so too must its regulator. I am excited by that challenge and look forward to working with the profession to meet it.

Tim Walker joins the GOsC on 1 November 2010