GOC told to cut costs before raising fees

Both the Association of British Dispensing Opticians and the Association of Optometrists have reacted angrily to the possibility of the General Optical Council raising retention and registration fees again for 2011-12.

The GOC said it anticipated fees would be impacted by the Department of Health's decision to make the Council for Healthcare Regulatory Excellence (CHRE) self-funding by charging a levy on regulators (News 06.08.10).

AOP chief executive Bob Hughes said: 'After two years where the GOC have knocked the profession sideways by massive increases, they cannot expect to get away with it for a third time. They are already trying to portray changes to the CHRE as an excuse to hurt the profession further, but frankly that is all it is, just an excuse.'