With just six weeks to go before the closing deadline, the GOC is urging all registered optometrists and DOs to renew their registration or face removal from the register.
According to the GOC, registrants who fail to return the retention form by the deadline will be removed from the register. A list of all the practitioners who have not renewed will also be sent to primary care trusts and health boards.
A GOC spokeswoman told Optician in a statement: 'With only six weeks left until the March 15 retention deadline, just 38 per cent of registrants have applied for retention. GOC figures indicate that 7,056 retention applications have been received so far.
'All full individual and business registrants must complete and return their application forms, along with payment, by the deadline. Those who pay by direct debit must still submit a completed application for retention form or face removal from the register. Practitioners who fail to renew their registration will be removed on April 1 2008.'
All registered optometry and dispensing optics students need to return their completed student retention forms to the GOC, together with a £20 fee, by July 15 2008.