No computer? Use a library, says GOC

The huge scale of the new CET rules, which have now formally come into force, has been revealed by the GOC.

From June 30 everyone on the register must earn 36 general points by the end of next year to retain registration in 2007. By last month 8,200 optometrists and dispensing opticians had logged on to the www.cetoptics.com website.

The site has approved 1,660 CET events, the GOC has said, with 140,000 CET points entered by providers, and 70,000 points have been confirmed by registrants.

In its latest newsletter for the profession the Council emphasised that it is practitioners' responsibility to confirm CET points on the site are accurate, and the necessity of having web access to continue in practice.

'The GOC appreciates that not all practitioners are familiar with internet use,' it said, 'and that not everyone owns a computer. Your place of work, colleagues, friends or relatives may be able to help.

'Failing that,' the GOC advised, 'there is free internet provision in public libraries or for a small fee you can use an internet cafe.'

The Council has told practitioners the scheme is internet-based because it is cheaper than a paper-based scheme - the costs are borne by registrants - and is kept up to date by the individual practitioners themselves, as stipulated in the new rules.