GOC reminder

All optical businesses, students and supervisors are reminded to ensure their arrangements for student supervision meet GOC and assessment body requirements in the wake of the fitness to practise hearing involving Boots Opticians.

GOC chief executive and registrar, Dian Taylor commented: 'Supervision of students is essential for protecting patients and the public. This case highlights the importance of having proper supervision mechanisms in place, ensuring those mechanisms are communicated to staff and implemented at ground level.'

Taylor added: 'With appropriate supervision, students can develop the core competencies they need to practise safely, in a controlled, restricted environment. But without it, students may not know their limits and the consequences can be potentially harmful to patients.'