Simon Jones: Path of least resistance

In October, I (perhaps) cheekily drew some parallels between the General Optical Council’s Education Strategic Review and Brexit. Both seemed to be continuing apace without anyone being fully aware of the details and both were wedded to the notion of getting the changes across the line. Maybe they’re more aligned than I initially thought.

The GOC’s approval of new education and training requirements (In Focus, page 6) for optometrists and dispensing opticians follows years of discussions with the sector’s associations and membership bodies, but seemingly not the education institutions. That 14 faculty leaders felt it necessary to write jointly to the GOC to express their concerns in 2019, was quite extraordinary. That due diligence on the financial implications for education establishments and students wasn’t available until after the end of the consultation period was also extraordinary.