Last week we launched a consultation on new standards for optical businesses. We are seeking views from registrants, patients, professional bodies and other stakeholders on the draft standards which will replace our current Code of Conduct for Businesses.
In order to get these new business standards right, it is vital that we hear from registrants and a wide range of stakeholders within the optical professions.
The new standards are designed to reflect the changes in the optical and healthcare sectors over the last few years, as well as the recent changes that we made to the GOC’s individual standards.
They will be easier to digest for both businesses and individuals so businesses understand our expectations and the public knows what to expect from a business.
It is important to note that the business standards will not be a rule book; business owners will be able to use their professional judgement to apply the standards within the context of their business.
We will analyse the feedback before council signs off the final version in November and the new standards take effect from April 2019.
This is the first consultation that will take place on our new online consultation hub, which is designed to make it as easy as possible to respond.
The closing date for the survey is August 30, 2018.
We encourage you to respond to the consultation because the best way for us to get the new standards right is to listen to a wide range of voices from across the sector. To complete the survey, visit https://consultation.optical.org.