A rare opportunity for the profession to provide views on the Opticians Act has been presented by the General Optical Council after the regulator called for evidence to be submitted.
Patients, the public, registrants, sector bodies and employers were all invited to present information to the GOC to ensure legislation and regulation were fit for the future.
The GOC has used the catalyst of planned reforms to health and social care regulators’ legislation by the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) to consider what further changes are needed for the aspects of the Act that are specific to the GOC or the practise of optometry and dispensing optics.
Its call sought views, information and factual evidence on the following: GOC objectives for legislative reform; protection of title, restricted activities and registers; regulation of businesses; testing of sight; fitting of contact lenses; sale and supply of optical appliances; and delivery of remote care and technology.
Marcus Dye, acting director of regulatory strategy at the GOC, said: ‘This is a unique opportunity for our stakeholders to have their say on the future of legislation and regulation. The information and evidence we collect will inform the development of any business case for future change to the Act, as well as inform whether we should consider making more immediate changes to our associated policies.
‘We will analyse the responses received and consider the need and strength of the case for change and whether further research and analysis of impact is required. If, as a result of the call for evidence and the consultation, we consider changes to legislation or GOC policy are necessary and can be evidenced, we will carry out further public and targeted stakeholder consultation activities on any proposals.
‘We hope that stakeholders will be excited by this opportunity to provide evidence on what needs to change or stay the same in order to ensure that regulation remains relevant, fit for the future and protects patients.’
The call for evidence and consultation will close on July 18, 2022 and evidence can be submitted on the GOC website optical.org.
Staying up-to-date
The College of Optometrists called the GOC’s review ‘one of the most significant developments for optometrists and dispensing opticians in a generation.’ It said the outcomes would have a direct impact on the future of the profession. The College added that review of the Act provided an opportunity to ensure it was up-to-date and addressed the increasing scope of practice within optometry, as the role of the optometrist continually evolved.
‘The College will be at the forefront of this review, gathering evidence for our submission and responding to the consultation on behalf of our members and the profession. We will be asking members for input over the course of the consultation period, and urge all optometrists to get involved to ensure their voices are heard,’ a College of Optometrists statement outlined.
FODO, an association for eye care providers in the UK, welcomed the GOC’s consultation on the Opticians Act, which it said provided essential protections for the public.
The professional body noted how the Act ensured GOC oversight of education and training, sight testing by registered practitioners, as well as fit and supply of medical devices. ‘These protections are fundamental safeguards for patients and the public as the nature, locations and models of care change,’ a FODO statement outlined.
FODO added that it was also vital that highly-trained, registered optometrists and dispensing opticians were able to delegate, diagnose, treat and discharge within their scope of practice to meet these challenges.
Members and sector partners were invited to work with FODO to formulate its response to the call for evidence and consultation.
‘Although outside the scope of this GOC consultation, there are areas where the Act can sensibly be updated, including reducing the bureaucratic burdens on regulators and allowing more flexibility in how they discharge their functions, which we welcome. The government has already made clear its intention to do this work in the coming years,’ FODO said.
The Association of British Dispensing Opticians (ABDO) said it welcomed the GOC’s review and the opportunity to comment on how the Opticians Act should be changed. The body said it would carefully consider the call for evidence and engage with the GOC and other sector bodies to ensure the perspectives of dispensing opticians and contact lens opticians were taken into account.
ABDO’s head of strategy, Alistair Bridge, said: ‘Legislation should both protect the public and enable eye care professionals to develop their roles to meet ever-growing patient demand across the UK. In responding to the call for evidence, we will draw on the experience of the dispensing opticians and contact lens opticians we represent and their aspirations for the future.'
Optometrists and dispensing opticians were also encouraged by the Association of Optometrists (AOP) to engage with the GOC’s consultation and ‘feed into the future picture of the profession.’
Adam Sampson, chief executive of the AOP, said: ‘It is an important piece of work in the context of how roles are evolving for optometrists and dispensing opticians and their evolving role in delivering primary eye care services to patients in the community.
‘By helping to shape the Optician’s Act and the regulation that sits around it, it is hoped we can help future-proof and grow the profession as practices move more into the clinical space and increasingly diagnose and treat eye health conditions, supported by new and emerging technologies.’