Tensions between the General Optical Council and the Association of British Dispensing Opticians have escalated in a row over potential revisions to qualifications as part of the regulator’s Education Strategic Review consultation.
ABDO had previously asked its members to respond to the consultation as it was concerned that the GOC’s classification of the ophthalmic dispensing qualifications would be set at level 5, when the majority of its members have achieved level 6. The organisation argued that the move could result in lower standards due to a lack of independent and rigorous assessments.
In a participation reminder to stakeholders, the GOC’s interim director of education, Dr Subo Shanmuganathan said: ‘We understand that there is some concern about the potential impact of our proposals on the status of current qualifications. In particular, it is important to understand when responding that the current baseline qualification level for an ophthalmic dispensing qualification is level 5 and we are not proposing any change to this minimum requirement.’
In response, ABDO accused the Council of showing a lack of regard and engagement with the profession. President Clive Marchant said by ruling out examining the appropriate level for training of DOs, the GOC had failed in what it set out to do.
‘ABDO had training to become a dispensing optician benchmarked in 2006 by Ofqual, the independent regulator,’ said Marchant.
‘We proposed our syllabus of education and assessment based on the GOC’s core competencies. We were delighted with the outcome from the Ofqual exercise, as it demonstrated the level of skill our members are achieving was at level 6.’
No consultation of changes
‘We believe that at some point during 2011, without consultation, the GOC decided that the minimum baseline qualification level for an ophthalmic dispensing qualification would be level 5. This was inserted into the guidelines for the approval and quality assurance of routes to GOC registration for dispensing opticians with no discussion of the implications,’ said Marchant.
‘The GOC’s core function is one of public protection and this is why we have our current level 6 education for dispensing opticians.
‘The vast majority have obtained FBDO level 6 and a few have completed a level 5 course. The introduction of a level 5 course has led to a two-tier dispensing optics profession, and this is not in the best interests of the public. However, the GOC sees downgrading all the profession to a level 5 minimum as its preferred direction. How downgrading education can be viewed as good public protection is beyond us.
‘The level 6 FBDO qualification has consistently proven to be robust and safe, the GOC should use their review of education as an opportunity to increase the baseline educational training level to 6, to provide all students with the best start in their career as a dispensing optician.
‘Lowering our level of education disrupts the established pathways of advancement to higher qualifications in low vision, contact lenses, Mecs and BSc. Obtaining a degree enables DOs to progress into research. All professions advance as a result of research and it is ludicrous to obstruct this logical pathway.
‘The optical profession has evolved and progressed over many years and should continue to do so to provide the best possible services and solutions for our patients. This was made clear in our initial submission to the review some two years ago. We expect reviews to provide the opportunity for progression, but the current direction is the exact opposite.’