Law firm Nockolds Solicitors to replace OCCS

Law firm Nockolds Solicitors has been appointed by the General Optical Council to run its independent mediation service for patient complaints.

It will replace the Optical Consumer Complaints Service (OCCS) from March 31. The decision followed an open tender process launched last year. The service, for optical consumers, did not have formal powers but acted as a mediator in disputes between patients and practitioners, the GOC said.

Complaints that call a GOC registrant’s fitness to practise into question would continue to be dealt with by the regulator.

GOC chair Gareth Hadley said: ‘We were particularly impressed by Nockolds’ commitment to excellent customer service and to gathering high quality information about complaints that will help us better understand the public’s experience of the optical professions.