Retention rates cut at bullish GOC meeting

Reduced retention rates and a positive performance review were among the highlights of last week's meeting of the General Optical Council.

Next year's retention fee for optometrists and dispensing opticians will be £270. That represents a reduction of 17 per cent for optometrists and 3.5 per cent for dispensing opticians (see page 8). A special rate has also be created for those earning less than £12,000 a year. They will qualify for a £100 discount, bringing their fees to £170, creating a saving of up to 48 per cent for some registrants. Rates for students remain unchanged.

The meeting heard that cost savings of over £250,000 and a predicted surplus of £300,000 in the current year had enabled the reduction to be made.