Consultation on speaking up guidance launched by GOC

A consultation has been launched by the General Optical Council (GOC) on draft guidance that aims to support registrants when speaking up about patient and public safety concerns.

It is seeking feedback on the clarity and impact of the guidance, as well as identifying any areas that it has missed.

The GOC said the guidance was developed after recent healthcare inquiries into issues where staff’s concerns were not appropriately actioned.

It has been drafted in line with the GOC’s duty of candour guidance, which outlines the need for registrants to be open and honest when things go wrong.

The regulator added that it should be read alongside the Standards for Optometrists and Dispensing Opticians, Standards for Students and Standards for Optical Businesses.