Optical complaints fall

Complaints against opticians have fallen to their lowest number for three years, according figures published this week by the GOC.

Council figures show that 129 complaints were made against practitioners during 2006/7 compared with 182 in 2004/5, representing a decrease of 29 per cent.

Overall, just 32 per cent of complaints required further action, the GOC said. A further 14 per cent of cases were withdrawn by the complainant before being reviewed by the investigation committee. Members of the public were responsible for 82 per cent of complaints. Figures also reveal that incorrect prescriptions were the single largest cause of complaints.