Shopping spree

One of the more controversial proposals relates to the introduction of compulsory continuing education and training (CET). No doubt the College and Association of Optometrists are grateful to the GOC for deflecting the fire from Optac (Optical Practitioners Totally Against Compulsion). Having both done rather less than subtle U-turns in moving from support for opposition to compulsion, it will be interesting to see how the College and AOP will react to the GOC proposals to introduce compulsory CET. Given the Government's views, there seems little chance that compulsion will not be introduced and in reality there is little to fear. But it is the manner of its introduction and control that should give the professional bodies cause for concern. The inept introduction of the voluntary Contact Lens CET scheme by the GOC is unlikely to give the profession confidence in its ability to produce a workable general scheme. The latest Optical Services Audit Committee report accepted that the profession itself should be responsible for the development, provision and running of CET. The role of the GOC should be limited, as in many other areas, to one of audit. Much of the work has already been done by the College and the Directorate of Optometric Continuing Education and Training. If the temptation to reinvent the wheel is resisted there should be a seamless move from the voluntary scheme successfully developed by the College to a statutory scheme run by the profession for the profession and audited by the GOC.