GOC publishes research into optical profession risks

Research into current and future risks posed to patients and the public by optical professionals has been published by the GOC.

The research highlighted that the risk profile of optical professionals could increase in the future as registrants take on more clinical work and deal with patients with complex needs, with poor communication and a lack of candour when things go wrong also identified as riskier areas that often lead to fitness to practise (FTP) cases.

GOC’s interim director of education Dr Subo Shanmuganathan said: ‘Since we last conducted this research in 2010 the optical sector has changed a great deal. This research has provided a wealth of invaluable information about both the perceptions of risk and what we see as trends from our FTP cases. The research findings will help improve the actions we take to protect patients.’