Bill Harvey: Thoughts on diabetes

Well done to all the winners of the Optician Awards held last weekend. Excellent to see a fair representation of both genders and all ethnicities. Let’s hope this is reflected in everyone’s pay packets.

I notice the GOC has published the results of its recent consultation for an Education Strategic Review. The main findings, albeit based on just 33 respondents, showed 97% agreement for new standards of education for optometrists and dispensing opticians, 84% support for education linked to professional standards, and 82% backing a move to clinical training and experience being embedded within education from the start. This could be further incentive for a much-needed review of the undergraduate programme with increased patient access out in the field.