View from the AOP: Let's discuss regulation

The AOP’s Council discussed a number of big issues at its October meeting. Two of the most important topics were the upcoming GOC strategic education review, and potential changes to the way optical professionals will be regulated.

The current system of health professional regulation sees nine bodies regulating 32 professions in the UK – about 1.44million professionals. In optics we of course have the GOC for optometrists and dispensing opticians, while orthoptists are regulated by the Health and Care Professions Council.

We believe a government white paper may come out soon. It is possible it will have a number of significant proposals. For example it may propose the number of health regulators be reduced, through mergers. It may propose a single register for all health professionals as the Professional Standards Authority has recommended in its recent report ‘Regulation rethought’.