GOsC announces appointment of new Council member

The General Osteopathic Council (GOsC) is pleased to announce the appointment of a lay member from Northern Ireland to the Council, Dr Joan Martin.

Dr Martin has been appointed for a four-year term from 1 April 2014. She is a retired occupational therapist and educator and has served on a number of UK and Northern Ireland public bodies including, until December 2012, the General Medical Council, where she chaired the Fitness to Practise Committee. Dr Martin brings a wealth of experience of representing the patient interest in the health arena.

Council members play a key role in setting strategy and policy to ensure the GOsC fulfils its statutory duties to eegulate standards of osteopathic care in the UK.

Alison White, GOsC Chair, said:

“Dr Martin’s appointment brings invaluable skills and experience to the GOsC. I feel sure she will make an excellent contribution to Council’s work and I look forward very much to working with her.”

Council members are appointed by the Privy Council with the recruitment undertaken by the GOsC using procedures scrutinised by an independent body, the Professional Standards Authority for Health and Social Care. Applicants are assessed against agreed competences and criteria developed by Council.

ENDS

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

Notes to Editors

For information about the GOsC’s Council please see: www.osteopathy.org.uk/about-us/the-organisation/council/

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 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/information/finding-an-osteopath