Five insights from the GOC

Work addressing unfair fitness to practise outcomes and a new corporate safeguarding policy were among topics discussed at the latest meeting of the General Optical Council (19 March, held online).

Below, OT presents a selection of insights from the latest meeting of the optical regulator.

1 Office relocation predicted to save GOC £1 million over five years

At the meeting, council approved the GOC business plan and budget for 2022–2026.

A key project in the business plan is the GOC’s office relocation from 10 Old Bailey in central London to Canary Wharf.

A business case prepared in September 2024 estimates that the move would save more than £1 million over five years.

“The project remains on track to deliver these savings in the long term and therefore meets the financial strategy objectives for sustainability and delivering value for registrant money,” the document stated.

2 GOC to spend £40,000 on thematic review of commercial practices and patient safety

The GOC has approved £40,000 towards a thematic review focusing on commercial practices and patient safety.

The review is the first of four to be conducted by the optical regulator as part of its

strategic objective to ‘prevent harm through agile regulation.’

Speaking at the latest GOC meeting, council member, Dr Hema Radhakrishnan, welcomed the move to undertake thematic reviews.

“It is really pleasing to see the proactive approach of horizon scanning and identifying risk,” she said.

Fellow council member, Dr Josie Forte, shared that it was important to keep in mind that the other two shortlisted topics considered by the advisory panel – domiciliary care and workplace culture – will be considered in the future.

“There was a lot of overlap between these three and there were a lot of other potential subjects as well. I think we need to make sure that people realise the scope of this,” she said.

Council member, Tim Parkinson, highlighted that a considered approach will need to be taken when examining commercial practice and patient safety.

“It is a subject where a degree of sensitivity and objectivity will be needed in its handling,” he said.

3 Potential for unfair outcomes in fitness to practise hearings to be examined by optical regulator

As part of the GOC’s equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) action plan for 2025–2026, the optical regulator will build on work undertaken by an unfair outcomes working group in 2024.

Asian and British Asian optometrists and dispensing opticians make up a disproportionate number of fitness to practise (FTP) investigations.

Data included within the 2023 EDI annual report reveals that while 35% of registrants are Asian or British Asian, optometrists and dispensing opticians within this demographic account for 40% of FTP investigations.

In contrast, 43% of registrants are white, while this demographic accounts for 36% of fitness to practise investigations.

The Professional Standards Authority has called on regulators to examine the potential for unfair fitness to practise outcomes as a priority.

Another area of focus as part of the GOC’s EDI action plan for 2025–2026 is incorporating social mobility considerations into the optical regulator’s work – for example, through data collection.

Speaking at the latest GOC meeting, chair, Dr Anne Wright, highlighted how essential EDI is to the work of the regulator.

“We know that this reaches into every aspect of our duties,” she said.

“We have come a long way and we still have a long way to go,” Wright emphasised.

Council member, Frank Munro, acknowledged the progress that the GOC has made in EDI.

“It is an amazing thing to witness over the past few years to see how this has evolved and become embedded in the GOC,” he said.

4 GOC introduces new corporate safeguarding policy

The optical regulator has developed a new policy that provides a framework for raising and responding to safeguarding concerns.

The corporate safeguarding policy is designed to support the GOC in protecting vulnerable individuals.

The policy requires relevant GOC staff to receive training on the safeguarding policy and communicating with vulnerable individuals.

At the latest GOC meeting, Forte shared the need for the policy to be specific to the optical regulator as well as a reflection of current best practice.

“What is really important here is that we do have a mechanism and a commitment to keeping this up to date,” she said.

5 PSA report: “Every single person in the organisation should be really proud”

GOC council members responded to the news that the optical regulator has met all 18 of the Professional Standard Authority’s Standards of Good Regulation for the third year in a row.

Council member, Clare Minchington, extended her congratulations to GOC staff.

“Every single person in the organisation should be really proud,” she said.

While welcoming the news, council member, Mike Galvin, cautioned the optical regulator against becoming complacent.

He emphasised that the optical sector is going through an intense period of change.

“If you look at the demise of NHS England, that is just the beginning of a number of changes we are going to see. It is important that we don’t rest on our laurels and we are flexible in our approach,” he said.