Simon Jones: The faceless few

It’s all a bit tempestuous at the moment, isn’t it? Last week’s College of Optometrists webinar on providing eye care during lockdown ended with the organisation issuing a stern reminder about maintaining professional standards and highlighting its own member code of conduct after social media users descended into personal attacks and derogatory remarks.

And I know the feeling. Last week on the optom.com forum, I was referred to as a ‘patsy’ with no ‘cojones’. Not just that, but also somehow complicit in widespread corruption involving the General Optical Council. I have to admit, I was rather put out by that, as I like to think I have been a bit of a thorn in the GOC’s side over the past decade. Not just the GOC, either, but multiples, independents, associations, suppliers, contact lens companies etc.