Russell Oakes removed from UK Register of Osteopaths

For immediate use

A hearing of the Professional Conduct Committee of the General Osteopathic Council (GOsC) concluded on 15 July 2010 that Mr Russell Oakes should be removed from the UK’s Statutory Register of Osteopaths.

Mr Oakes was an osteopath for a number of years, practising in Wigan, and misled the public by claiming that he was a doctor and a vet. On October 2009 at the Crown Court of Liverpool Mr Oakes admitted/pleaded guilty to four counts of obtaining by deception; two counts of doing acts tending and intended to pervert the course of justice; one count of using a false instrument with intent; one count of forgery and 33 counts of fraud. Subsequently, on 11 January 2010, he was sentenced to a total of 24 months imprisonment for these offences.

The GOsC’s Professional Conduct Committee concluded that Mr Oakes’ behaviour was fundamentally incompatible with being an osteopath, with serious breaches of the profession’s Code of Practice and Standard of Proficiency. As a consequence, Mr Oakes was found to be guilty of unacceptable professional conduct and there was no other means of protecting the public interest short of removal. In particular the Committee noted:

• A serious departure from relevant professional standards;
• Serious and repeated abuse of position and trust and violation of the rights of patients;
• A persistent and serious level of dishonesty which was covered up;
• A persistent lack of insight into the seriousness of his actions and their consequences.

Mr Oakes has a right of appeal against this decision in accordance with section 31 of the Osteopaths Act 1993.

ENDS

For further information, contact:
The GOsC Press Office
Tel: 020 7357 6655 x245
Email: pressoffice@osteopathy.org.uk

NOTES TO EDITORS

The General Osteopathic Council (GOsC) has a statutory duty to regulate the practice of osteopathy in the UK.

Osteopaths must be registered with the GOsC in order to practise in the UK.

We work with the public and the profession to promote patient safety by:

• registering qualified professionals
• setting, maintaining and developing standards of osteopathic practice and conduct
• assuring the quality of osteopathic education
• ensuring continuing professional development
• helping patients with concerns or complaints about an osteopath.

The 2010 Statutory Register of Osteopaths provides a geographical index of all practising osteopaths, and is available to the general public and to healthcare providers online at: www.osteopathy.org.uk.