Lower fees for DOs to be considered

Following a meeting between the Association of British Dispensing Optician's president Barry Duncan, general secretary Sir Anthony Garrett and GOC chairman Geoff Harris, the Council has confirmed that it is willing to consider the issue of lower registration payments for dispensing opticians.

Issues of concern to dispensing opticians were discussed at the January 21 meeting. They include the GOC's one-fee approach, which sees them pay the same registration costs as optometrists, and staged fee payments.

Sir Anthony claimed after the meeting, ABDO's first with the Council's new chairman, that the bodies have established 'what is going to be a good working relationship'.

Sir Anthony said: 'We talked about whether there should be a lower fee for DOs, but that's something that needs wider debate.'