optician will be inviting high profile figures to give their views on what should be in, and out of, the Opticians Act.

The profession views the Act with a regulatory eye and much of the discussion on change from the professional side of the fence has been directed towards the powers of the General Optical Council, routes to registration and widening the scope of optometrists into new areas such as therapeutics and refractive surgery.
For those standing on the consumers' side of the fence there is likely to be a different perspective. It is reasonable to assume that the Government will want to see as much public benefit as possible in any changes to the Act.
The launch of the consultation document (News, May 7) hinted at the consumer as beneficiary and as everyone knows that roughly translates as cheaper spectacles.
It may well be coincidence that another Government report on competition (see page 5) makes a direct link between regulation and prices. In this report, optics is singled out as an area for further investigation.
The Tories flirted with complete deregulation as far back as the 1980s. Today technology is available to make this a commercially attractive proposition and liberalisation may be welcomed by the chains and the supermarkets.
As for the route for medical, additional procedures, that relies on practitioners getting trained, taking exams and then building the structure in which to sell their new skills. Either way change is afoot.
Over the next few weeks optician will be inviting high-profile figures from the professional bodies, the multiple and independent sectors to give their views on what should be in, and out of, the Opticians Act.
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