RCVS announces new complaints investigation processes
The CEG stage of the process has been replaced by Stage One Preliminary Investigation Committee.
A new, streamlined concerns investigation process, in which cases are considered by the Preliminary Investigation Committees from the outset, will come into force on Saturday (1 October), the RCVS has announced.
Under the former system, complaints about a veterinary surgeon or veterinary nurse were considered by a Case Examiner Group at Stage One to ascertain whether there was an arguable case of serious professional misconduct. Should the CEG decide the matter was disputable, it would pass to Stage Two for consideration by the Preliminary Investigation Committees.
Under the new system, the CEG stage of the process has been replaced by Stage One Preliminary Investigation Committees (PIC). The PIC will consider from the outset whether there is a realistic prospect that the alleged conduct constitutes serious professional misconduct and that there is sufficient evidence to prove this.
The new Stage One PIC will consist of professionals, laypeople, and an RCVS Case Manager, who will also be the initial point of contact for persons raising concerns. Witnesses and responders in the case will support the committees in their investigations.
RCVS registrar and director of legal services, Eleanor Ferguson, commented: “By keeping to one consistent threshold for serious professional misconduct throughout the concerns investigation process, we hope that these changes will help to simplify our investigations while still ensuring that the process remains robust and thorough.
“We also hope that, in time and when the changes are fully bedded in, we may also see a swifter resolution to some cases, as concerns that may previously been referred on to Stage Two of the process can now be closed at Stage One.”
If a Stage One PIC cannot close a case, it will refer it to a Stage Two PIC to collect additional information and evidence. The Stage Two PIC will decide if there is a realistic prospect of finding serious professional misconduct and if it is in the public interest for the case to go to Stage Three for a full, public, Disciplinary Committee hearing.
“The introduction of these new stages is the first step in the programme of reform of our concerns investigation and disciplinary processes,” Eleanor adds. “Next year we will be looking to introduce our Charter Case Protocol which will be a way of resolving some less serious cases of alleged misconduct where it would not necessarily be in the public interest to hold a full Disciplinary Committee hearing.”
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