Discussions at the General Optical Council last week indicated that reforms to two of its major functions would be rubber stamped this year.
Proposed changes to the fitness to practise process and the way in which CET points are acquired weighed heavily on the agenda during the Council's 198th public meeting, at the home of the Royal College of Ophthalmologists at Cornwall Terrace, London.
The Council voted for a limited three-month consultation on an amendment to proposed new FTP rules first consulted on last spring, which are designed to speed up the FTP process. The amendment would see case examiners - rather than the GOC's registrar Samantha Peters - review decisions not to refer registrants for a hearing (News 27.01.12).
Up to 12 case examiners, including optometrists, dispensing opticians and lay people, would be recruited as a result, the GOC said.
'We are committed to making the transition as smooth as we can,' said director of regulation Mandie Lavin.
Another proposed change, to CET, was also discussed during the meeting, stating registrants should gather their 36 points across a range of competencies and among their peers.
Peer discussions - either as traditional peer reviews or structured case-based discussion with up to eight peers in the same room - would meet this requirement, Council members heard.
Online peer discussions through real-time audio and visual programmes were suggested as a solution for geographically isolated registrants to gain points.
Further debate on the new CET rules was scheduled for the next meeting on March 22, before any changes are forwarded to the Department of Health for approval.
The GOC, which plans to launch the new CET scheme in January next year, has also commissioned research to analyse the costs and benefits of clinical skills assessments for practitioners every six years.
Robust registration of practitioners has buoyed balance sheets at the GOC in recent years, and a financial update by director of resources Jeff Cant showed a feared drop-off in registrants following 2008's downturn was averted. 'That simply hasn't happened,' he said.
For 2012/13 the GOC has cut its fees for the second year in a row to £260.
'When's the flotation?' asked one council member, jokingly, noting that the Council was performing better than most Footsie 100 companies.
'The John Lewis model is probably the answer to that one,' added Cant.
The GOC also reported making £250,000 in efficiency savings this financial year. Under-spending on FTP investigations led to a more conservative budget being drawn up for cases next year.