Our approach
Minimising potential risks for patients in practice
Managing risk in practice
The General Optical Council sets standards for individual optometrists, dispensing opticians, and the optical businesses that register with the GOC. These all have the ultimate aim of protecting patients and the public.
As part of its work to protect its members, the AOP provides guidance and advice to help them understand and meet these standards such as our Member guide to GOC's Standards of Practice and GOC's Business Standards.
These pages contain practical advice on managing day to day risk in the optical practice in order to meet the GOC’s standards for both businesses and individual practitioners.
For employers: the practice diary
How to organise the practice diary so that every patient gets the time they need
For employers: clinical governance
Tips for ensuring that patients are followed up when it’s needed
For employers: the practice team
Appropriate delegation and the safeguards you need to have in place
For employers: pay structures
The rights and wrongs of commercial incentives in pay
For employees
Your duties and what you have a right to expect
For locums
Protecting patients and yourself
For pre-registration optometrists and their supervisors
Understanding your responsibilities and assessing risks