In focus: GOC pushes forward with final ESR consultation

Now more than two years in the making and about to enter a third and final public consultation, the Education Strategic Review (ESR) has stoked healthy debate throughout the profession. Changes, potentially ranging from therapeutic prescribing training to a more clinical practice, could be implemented by September 2020.

As optometry embraces more enhanced services and dispensing opticians take on more responsibility, the regulator has accepted that fast emerging education courses must move with the times.

GOC chair Gareth Hadley said: ‘It has been the elephant in the room for optics for some time. It’s not just that we’ve been trying to push the door open, there are also lots of people pulling from the other side.’