Share your views on our draft practice note for questioning witnesses

As the regulator for osteopathy in the UK, we investigate and consider concerns about osteopaths’ conduct, competence or health in order to maintain patient safety and public confidence in the osteopathic profession. To do this we rely on patients, members of the public and other osteopaths or health professionals to tell us if they have concerns about a registered osteopath. The role of witnesses is vital in this process.

We want to make sure all witnesses feel able to give their best evidence and engage effectively with the hearing process. We are therefore seeking views on our draft practice note for questioning witnesses, which will be used by our Professional Conduct Committee during fitness to practice hearings.

We welcome views from all, especially osteopaths, patients, other health and social care regulators and key organisations involved in our concerns process.

Our draft Practice Note for Questioning Witnesses is part of a set of interim measures introduced in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and national restrictions in 2020.

The interim practice note was approved by GOsC Council in July 2020 to support our Committees during remote hearings. Since then we have gathered feedback from participants in remote and blended hearings as part of a general review of the practice note, and our consultation now focuses on the revised version.

The deadline for responses to this consultation is Monday 31 October 2022.

Read more and respond to the consultation.