Opticians Act 1989

[F113F.Powers of the Fitness to Practise CommitteeU.K.

(1)Where an allegation against a registrant is referred under section 13D above (other than under subsection (9) of that section) to the Fitness to Practise Committee, subsections (2) to (5) below shall apply.

(2)If the Fitness to Practise Committee find that—

(a)a registered optometrist’s or registered dispensing optician’s fitness to practise is impaired;

(b)a business registrant’s fitness to carry on business as an optometrist or a dispensing optician or both is impaired; or

(c)a student registrant’s fitness to undertake training is impaired,

they may if they think fit give a direction specified in subsection (3) or (4) below.

(3)The directions specified in this subsection are that—

(a)except in a health case, the name of the registrant be erased from the appropriate register;

(b)the registrant’s registration be suspended (that is to say, is not to have effect) during such period not exceeding twelve months as may be specified in the direction;

(c)the registrant’s registration is to be conditional on his or its compliance, during such period not exceeding three years as may be specified in the direction, with such requirements so specified as the Committee see fit to impose for the protection of members of the public or in his or its interests.

(4)Where the Fitness to Practise Committee find that a registered optometrist’s or registered dispensing optician’s fitness to practise is impaired on the ground of deficient professional performance, and the deficiency relates to the performance of a specialty or proficiency particulars of which are entered in the appropriate register in respect of him, the Committee may, instead of any of the directions specified in subsection (3) above or, in addition to any of the directions specified in subsection (3)(b) or (c) above, direct that—

(a)the entry relating to that specialty or proficiency be removed from the appropriate register;

(b)the entry relating to that specialty or proficiency be removed from the appropriate register temporarily, that is to say, for such period not exceeding twelve months as may be specified in the direction; or

(c)the entry relating to that specialty or proficiency be conditional upon the registered optometrist’s or registered dispensing optician’s compliance, during such period not exceeding three years as may be specified in the direction, with such requirements so specified as the Committee see fit to impose for the protection of members of the public or in his interests.

(5)If the Fitness to Practise Committee find that—

(a)the registered optometrist’s or the registered dispensing optician’s fitness to practise is not impaired;

(b)the business registrant’s fitness to carry on the business of an optometrist or a dispensing optician or both is not impaired; or

(c)the student registrant’s fitness to undertake training is not impaired,

they may nevertheless give the registrant a warning regarding his or its future conduct or performance.

(6)Subsection (7) below applies if the Fitness to Practise Committee have directed that the registration of a registrant be suspended under subsection (3) above or (13) below.

(7)If this subsection applies, the Fitness to Practise Committee may, if they think fit—

(a)direct that the current period of suspension be extended for such further period from the time when it would otherwise expire as is specified in the direction;

(b)except in a case to which subsection (8) below applies, direct that the name of the registrant be erased from the appropriate register;

(c)direct that the registrant’s registration is, as from the expiry of the current period of suspension, to be conditional on his or its compliance, during such period not exceeding three years as may be specified in the direction, with such requirements so specified as the Committee think fit to impose for the protection of members of the public or in his or its interests,

but, except as provided in subsection (8) below, the Committee shall not extend any period of suspension under this section for more than twelve months at a time.

(8)In a case where—

(a)the Fitness to Practise Committee find that the registered optometrist's, the registered dispensing optician’s or the student registrant’s impairment is due to adverse physical or mental health; and

(b)that person’s name has been suspended from the appropriate register under the preceding provisions of this section,

they may give a direction extending his period of suspension indefinitely if the conditions specified in subsection (9) below are satisfied.

(9)The conditions specified in this subsection are—

(a)the period of suspension will, on the date on which the direction takes effect, have lasted for at least two years; and

(b)that direction is made not more than two months before the date on which the period of suspension would otherwise expire.

(10)Where the Fitness to Practise Committee have given a direction under subsection (8) above extending indefinitely the suspension of a person’s name from the appropriate register, the Fitness to Practise Committee must review the direction if—

(a)the person requests them to do so;

(b)at least two years have elapsed since the date on which the direction took effect; and

(c)in a case where the direction has previously been reviewed under this subsection, at least two years have elapsed since the date of the last such review.

(11)On a review under subsection (10) above, the Fitness to Practise Committee may—

(a)confirm the direction;

(b)direct that the suspension be terminated; or

(c)direct that the registrant’s registration be conditional on his or its compliance, during such period not exceeding three years as may be specified in the direction, with such requirements so specified as the Committee see fit to impose for the protection of members of the public or in his or its interests.

(12)Where a direction that the inclusion of a person’s name in the appropriate register be subject to conditions has been given under subsection (3), (7) or (11) above, subsection (13) below applies.

(13)If this subsection applies, the Fitness to Practise Committee may (whether or not of their own motion), if they think fit—

(a)except in a health case, direct that the name of the registrant be erased from the appropriate register;

(b)direct that a registrant’s registration in the appropriate register be suspended during such period not exceeding twelve months as may be specified in the direction;

(c)direct that the current period of conditional registration be extended for such further period from the time when it would otherwise expire as may be specified in the direction; or

(d)revoke the direction, or revoke or vary any of the conditions imposed by the direction, for the remainder of the current period of conditional registration,

but the Committee must not extend any period of conditional registration under this section for more than three years at a time.

(14)Subsections (6) to (13) above shall apply—

(a)to the temporary removal of an entry relating to a specialty or proficiency under subsection (4)(b) above as they apply to a registrant’s registration being suspended under subsection (3)(b) above; and

(b)to an entry relating to a specialty or proficiency being made conditional under subsection (4)(c) above as they apply to a registrant’s registration being made conditional under subsection (3)(c) above.

(15)Where subsection (6) to (13) above apply by virtue of subsection (14) above—

(a)references in subsections (7)(b) and (13)(a) above and section 13G(1) below to the name of a registrant being erased from the appropriate register shall be read as if it included a reference to the removal from the appropriate register (otherwise than temporarily) of an entry relating to a specialty or proficiency;

(b)references in subsections (7) to (11) above and section 13G(1) and (2) below to a period of suspension or suspension shall be read as if it included a reference to a period of time specified for the temporary removal or temporary removal from the appropriate register of an entry relating to a specialty or proficiency;

(c)references in subsection (13) above and section 13G(1), (4) and (5) below to being suspended shall be read as if it included a reference to an entry relating to a specialty or proficiency being removed from the appropriate register for a specified period; and

(d)references in subsections (7), (11) and (13) above and section 13G(1) and (2) below to a registrant’s registration being conditional or to conditional registration shall be read as if it included a reference to an entry relating to a specialty or proficiency being conditional.]