GOC adds email for statutory notices

Statutory notices issued by the General Optical Council (GOC) for registration and fitness to practise processes will be served by email if consent has been given.

The regulator will continue to communicate with registrants in paper form unless consent was given for e-services during registration or renewal.

Scott Shadbolt, head of professional discipline at the Association of Optometrists, noted its members were concerned that matters of significance were being treated lightly by the GOC.

‘The professional discipline team successfully challenged the GOC when they attempted to make this change previously without seeking consent. While we are pleased to see they have now altered their approach, we understand members may still have concerns.