Despite an overall increase in the number of complaints against practitioners in the past year, less than 1 per cent of opticians were the subject of a fitness to practise complaint, according to the latest figures from the GOC.
The data published in the 2007/8 report also revealed that the overall rise in the number of complaints follows decreases for the past two years. In total, 13 per cent of all complaints resulted in a referral to a formal public hearing. According to the GOC figures, in total 172 fitness to practise complaints were received in 2007/8. Optometrists were the subject of complaint in 69 per cent of cases. The remainder related to dispensing opticians (15 per cent), student registrants (4 per cent) and bodies corporate (4 per cent).
GOC data also revealed that spectacle prescriptions were among the public's main concerns, accounting for nearly 28 per cent of complaints received. Clinical issues also featured highly, including complaints relating to the treatment and detection of eye conditions such as cataracts and macular degeneration.
Commenting on the publication of the annual report, GOC chairman, Rosie Varley, said: 'The overwhelming majority of our registrants continue to maintain high standards of conduct and clinical competence. In the small number of cases where there are problems, the GOC works hard to implement FTP procedures that are fair, transparent and proportionate, from receipt of the complaint right through to its conclusion. Our work over the past year demonstrates our commitment to delivering effective public protection that also inspires the confidence of the eye care professionals we regulate.'
The annual report includes an update on the current CET cycle. Figures show at the half-way point of the current cycle, optometrists have earned an average 29 points each, with contact lens opticians clocking up 26 points and dispensing opticians 21 points each.
The report also features registration figures. These reveal that both optometry and dispensing optics continue to attract a growing number of trainees. The overall intake of students to all GOC-approved courses in optometry and dispensing optics increased by 3 per cent last year, from 4,166 to 4,289.