The Osteopaths Act 1993 (Commencement No. 3) Order 1998

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Order)

This Order brings into force on 9th May certain provisions of the Osteopaths Act 1993 thereby enabling the General Osteopathic Council (the “GOsC”) to open the Register of Osteopaths and to enter on it the names and other details of those applicants for either full or conditional registration who have satisfied the Registrar of their fitness to practise and have paid the prescribed fee (sections 1(2) and (3), 2, 3, 4 and 6).

The Order also brings into force the following provisions of the Act—

• Section 9 (with the exception of subsection (1C)), so as to require the GOsC to make the register available for inspection, to provide copies on payment of a reasonable fee and to publish annually a list of registered osteopaths.

• Section 10(1) requiring the Registrar to investigate any claim that an entry on the Register has been fraudently procured or incorrectly made and to make a report of his findings to the General Council.

• Sections 12, 14, 15, 16 and 18 which concern the procedure for recognising qualifications and visiting and obtaining information from institutions offering relevant courses of study.

• Section 29 which enables applicants for registration and those already registered to appeal against adverse decisions of the Registrar.

• Section 33 which applies certain provisions of the Fair Trading Act 1973 in connection with competition and anti-competitive practices.

• Section 38 which inserts the term “registered osteopath” into various enactments dealing with data protection and access to personal health records.

• Section 42 in respect of the short title of the Act, the territorial extent of the Act and the power of the Secretary of State to bring the Act into force and make transitional provision is brought fully into force.