View from the GOC: New standards for optical businesses

A key part of the GOC’s role in protecting the public is setting the standards our registrants need to meet and supporting them in doing so. Following a comprehensive consultation back in 2015, we introduced new Standards of Practice for optometrists, dispensing opticians and complementary standards for optical students. The response to these has been very positive; 85% of registrants feel confident in their ability to meet the new standards. We also introduced supplementary guidance on consent and candour in April 2017 in response to feedback from registrants that they required more support in these areas.

When introducing the standards for individuals, we amended the Code of Conduct for Business Registrants to make clear businesses must not hamper optometrists and dispensing opticians in meeting the standards expected of them. We are now developing new standards for optical businesses themselves, which will replace the existing Code of Conduct for Business Registrants and be consistent with, and complementary to, the standards for optometrists and dispensing opticians. We also intend them to be proportionate to the risks associated with optical businesses.