GOC responds to Private Eye

Satirical newspaper Private Eye has claimed fewer than 150 of Specsavers Optical Group's 770 practices in the UK are registered with the General Optical Council.

The claims were made in the September 21 edition in an article which described each Specsavers outlet as a 'body corporate'.

'The GOC does not register stores or practices; we register individuals and bodies corporate. In order for a body corporate to use the title "Optician", it must be registered with the GOC in accordance with section 28(5) of the Opticians Act. A body corporate is a limited company or limited liability partnership that has been incorporated with Companies House,' said a spokesperson for the GOC.