GOC expels 482 practitioners

In all, 223 optometrists, 259 dispensing opticians and 45 corporate bodies were erased on April 30 following the annual trawl of those who, in general, have not responded to two renewal notices sent from the General Optical Council's Harley Street headquarters.
Compared to last year there were slightly fewer optometrists erased (231 in 2003) and slightly more dispensing opticians (230 in 2003).
However, there was a noticeable jump in corporate bodies by 20 from 25 last year.
Renewal notices were dispatched to all registrants in January, and those who did not respond were sent reminders in March.
'While every effort is made to contact registrants, failure to receive renewal notices, cannot, under the rules, be used as an excuse for not renewing registration,' said a GOC spokesman.
'The registration process takes place at the same time each year and it is the duty of the registrant to ensure that renewal takes place.'Nearly 500 optometrists and dispensing opticians were erased from the Opticians Register last month in the GOC yearly cull of those who have failed to pay their retention fees.
In all, 223 optometrists, 259 dispensing opticians and 45 corporate bodies were erased on April 30 following the annual trawl of those who, in general, have not responded to two renewal notices sent from the General Optical Council's Harley Street headquarters.
Compared to last year there were slightly fewer optometrists erased (231 in 2003) and slightly more dispensing opticians (230 in 2003).
However, there was a noticeable jump in corporate bodies by 20 from 25 last year.
Renewal notices were dispatched to all registrants in January, and those who did not respond were sent reminders in March.
'While every effort is made to contact registrants, failure to receive renewal notices, cannot, under the rules, be used as an excuse for not renewing registration,' said a GOC spokesman.
'The registration process takes place at the same time each year and it is the duty of the registrant to ensure that renewal takes place.'Nearly 500 optometrists and dispensing opticians were erased from the Opticians Register last month in the GOC yearly cull of those who have failed to pay their retention fees.
In all, 223 optometrists, 259 dispensing opticians and 45 corporate bodies were erased on April 30 following the annual trawl of those who, in general, have not responded to two renewal notices sent from the General Optical Council's Harley Street headquarters.
Compared to last year there were slightly fewer optometrists erased (231 in 2003) and slightly more dispensing opticians (230 in 2003).
However, there was a noticeable jump in corporate bodies by 20 from 25 last year.
Renewal notices were dispatched to all registrants in January, and those who did not respond were sent reminders in March.
'While every effort is made to contact registrants, failure to receive renewal notices, cannot, under the rules, be used as an excuse for not renewing registration,' said a GOC spokesman.
'The registration process takes place at the same time each year and it is the duty of the registrant to ensure that renewal takes place.'