In focus: Time not on profession’s side as patient risk assessed by GOC

New General Optical Council research into current and future risks posed to patients and the public by optical professionals has highlighted serious concerns among registrants about the commercial target pressures and time constraints they face in everyday practice.

Worries over targets and time constraints topped the list of contextual concerns, which, if they occurred in practice, could place patients and the public at risk. Data from the online survey component of the research showed limited chair time with patients was perceived to be the most likely contextual risk (3.75 out of 5) and was also viewed as having a high level of severity (4.16) if it occurred in practice. Risks relating to commercial and performance target pressure were viewed as being above average likelihood (3.61) and just below average potential severity (3.79).