Dispute delays new scheme for registration

The lead body for the new scheme, The College of Optometrists, agreed to delay publication of the proposals following calls from the other stakeholders in the registration scheme.
All of the parties involved were understood to have agreed in principle on what the changes should achieve, but agreeing on the practical aspects of how that might be done has not been so easy.
However, other stakeholders in the scheme say agreement has yet to be reached on a number of key issues.
Peter Coe, registrar of the General Optical Council, said that the GOC and the College had agreed to the principles of PQE 2 but added that the details of how the system would work had not been agreed with the employers' body the Federation of Ophthalmic and Dispensing Opticians and the Association of Optometrists.
Sources within the profession say disagreements centre on the cost of supervision and on the amount of additional time supervisors would be expected to spend with pre-registration students.
This is believed to include the practicalities of on-going assessment, clinical training, the length of the pre-registration period and flexibility surrounding exam times.
Earlier this year (see News, July 25) Paul Carroll said FODO was concerned that proposed changes to the scheme should not be a barrier to practitioners taking on the role of supervisor. Carroll said he believed with the right framework and support the new scheme could attract more supervisors.
Bob Hughes, chief executive of FODO, said: 'We are working with the College and the discussions are still ongoing.
'It's important when the new PQE is announced that they are as right as possible for the profession.'
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