Monday is D-Day for CET points decision

Monday's specially convened meeting of the General Optical Council will decide the carry-forward arrangements on CET points.
Speaking to optician this week, GOC registrar Peter Coe said on Monday May 9 there would be a decision one way or the other on the controversial subject which was the talking point of Optrafair.
In a statement this week the Council said it had listened to the concerns of the optical bodies and registrants on the matter.
Following the profession's letter to Coe (see column, right) asking for a change to the number of points that could be carried over from the voluntary period, the Council has received more correspondence from registrants echoing these concerns.
Nevertheless, the GOC said this week there have been other voices with a different opinion.
'The GOC has correspondence demonstrating that many registrants have planned their CET according to the advice given in 2004, and imploring the GOC not to change the Rules,' said a GOC spokeswoman.
Prior to Monday's meeting the GOC is concerned to be even-handed.
'The GOC believes that this is not a time for scoring points or penalising those who overlooked information available,' she said.
'The GOC is anxious as are the other optical bodies that registrants should be given a fair opportunity to complete their CET requirements.
'However the GOC is aware that some registrants might see themselves disadvantaged by a late change in the draft Rules. The GOC, therefore, has welcomed the optical bodies' assurance that they will explain to registrants why they have made such treaties to the GOC.'
On Monday GOC members will consider draft rules that would allow 24 general points to be carried over from the first 18 months of the scheme (January 1 2004 to June 30 2005) to be included in the 36 general points to achieved by December 31 2006.
In addition, dispensing optician registrants on the speciality list for contact lens fitting would be allowed to carry forward a maximum of 12 contact lens speciality points to be counted towards the 18 speciality points to be achieved by December 31 2006.