GOC improves search facility

An improved search facility for the public to check their optometrist or dispensing optician is registered has been launched by the GOC.

The public can now use the GOC website to search for local opticians with a registered speciality, while suspended registrants will now be visible on public registers with a note explaining what this means for the public.

To make the search function more user-friendly a 'sounds like' feature has been added for the public to find their optician even if they don't know the correct spelling of the practice.

Earlier this year, the GOC promoted the importance of checking an optical practitioner's registration by placing leaflets in 7,000 doctors' surgeries and 1,200 pharmacies.