Government and regulation

Prime Minister Andy Burnham Budget meeting with John Healey, Chancellor of the Exchequer in 10 Downing Street

Increases to small business rate relief and national minimum wage announced in Budget

Chancellor John Healey framed his first Autumn Statement around support for small businesses, families and working people

Government and regulation

2 days ago

A man sitting at a table looking and smiling at a female who has her back to the camera

Healthwatch England and local Healthwatch organisations to be retained

Government and regulation

2 days ago

A road at night with cars on lined with street lights

Drivers continue to struggle with headlight glare, new research reports

Government and regulation

3 days ago

SUV parked blocking a residential street

Dangers of floating bus stops and pavement parking key message for Guide Dogs at political party conferences

Government and regulation

3 days ago 6 min read

Five panellists sit behind a table at an Association of Optometrists event, taking part in a discussion on “Health Outside the Hospital,” with an audience seated in front of them. A presentation screen and banners for the Association of Optometrists and Progress stand behind the panel

Five AOP highlights from political party conference season

Government and regulation

22 Oct 1

A man covers one eye and reads from a page held by a practitioner in front of him

Eye care leaders call on sector to unite behind global compact

Government and regulation

21 Oct

Elderly Asian woman being checked with slit lamp microscope

Liberal Democrats adopt Eye care everywhere as party policy

Government and regulation

12 Oct

Middle age man reading book with his father while sitting close to window in living room

Vision rehabilitation must be part of social care reform, RNIB says

Government and regulation

06 Oct

Adam Sampson and Dame Diana Johnson on panel

“Real opportunity” to utilise primary care skills on the High Street, health minister says

Government and regulation

06 Oct 7 min read

A woman listens among a group of people sitting at a board table

Seven insights from the GOC

Government and regulation

02 Oct 8 min read 1

A man with his back to the camera looks into a display of glowing numbers that drop down in lines from above, indicating data and artificial intelligence

Health and social care regulators commit to collaborating on AI principles

Government and regulation

17 Sep

A patient with greying hair and beard speaks to a practitioner who is wearing a white clinical coat. They are seated in a consulting room

Optometry Scotland publishes community low vision service recommendations

Government and regulation

10 Sep

GOC reception area

GOC publishes the results of its 2026 registrant workforce and perceptions survey

Government and regulation

03 Sep 2

Health minister, Mike Nesbitt MLA, with Optometry Northern Ireland chair, Brian McKeown, and colleagues during a visit to Brogan’s Eyes and Ears practice in Lisburn

Northern Ireland health minister visits community optometry practice

Government and regulation

11 Aug

Parliamentary portrait of James Frith MP

James Frith MP takes on responsibility for eye care at the DHSC

Government and regulation

10 Aug

A close-up of a hand flicking through a pile of organised papers

GOC updates Hearing and Indicative Sanctions guidance

Government and regulation

28 Jul

Chris McDonald looking at the camera wearing a grey suit

Chris McDonald MP joins Department of Health and Social Care

Government and regulation

24 Jul

Exterior of the Department of Health and Social Care on Whitehall, Central London

Two new ministers join the Department of Health and Social Care

Government and regulation

23 Jul

Yvette Cooper MP is appointed as health secretary by Prime Minister Andy Burnham at 10 Downing Street on 20 July 2026

Yvette Cooper MP appointed health secretary by Prime Minister Andy Burnham

Government and regulation

21 Jul

Woman sitting on a giant light bulb growing like a plant, working on a laptop against a cloudy sky background.

43% of GOC registrants on track to meet their CPD requirements

Government and regulation

21 Jul

A man tries on glasses in an optometry practice

GOC launches consultation on updated sight testing statement

Government and regulation

16 Jul 1

A group of professionals hold a meeting in a conference room

Five insights from General Optical Council

Government and regulation

09 Jul

Head-and-shoulders portrait of a smiling person with long blonde hair and blue eyes, wearing a sleeveless navy and white patterned top, against a plain light grey background with copy space to the right

GOC appoints IP optometrist as its first head of optometric advice

Government and regulation

09 Jul

A full shot of a young woman with dual sensory loss, walking away from a kitchen holding a glass of water in a clean, bright kitchen. She is holding her red and white cane, providing essential mobility, safety, and independence

Government funding for specialist interpreter support welcomed by Deafblind UK

Government and regulation

25 Jun

A woman wearing a yellow top receives a sight test

GOC to consult on proposed updated statement on the testing of sight

Government and regulation

25 Jun

A female optometrist performs a sight test with a slit lamp for a male patient

OFNC advises profession against committing to “unfunded” ERS until negotiations complete

Government and regulation

24 Jun 1

James Murray MP, the health secretary, making his speech on the Health Bill at the House of Commons

NHS eye exams and ‘postcode lottery’ for glaucoma care discussed in Health Bill's second reading

Government and regulation

03 Jun 5 min read

Visually impaired businesswoman using smartphone and earphones during business meeting

Recruitment drive to tackle Access to Work backlog announced by Government

Government and regulation

28 May

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Most popular across OT

An older man stands looking out a window

Tadalafil use associated with higher risk of glaucoma

Research

18 Aug

Kevin Thompson

Obituary: Kevin Thompson

AOP

03 Sep

A woman smiles while wearing solar eclipse glasses

Moorfields Eye Hospital surgeon gives tips on staying safe during the solar eclipse

Patients

10 Aug 1

Sameer and Hannah pose during a sight test. Sameer has turned to the camera. With one hand he holds the control for a slit lamp, and with the other he holds a volk lens up to Hannah’s eye

An optometrist saved my life

Hannah Mockler: “I could have been left with permanent damage to my vision”

Practitioner stories

16 Oct

A toddler leans against a sofa holding a toy truck. One of his eyes is glowing with a white circle

An optometrist saved my life

“I knew straightaway that this was something that needed to be seen urgently”

Patients

20 Aug 5 min read

Most popular across Government and regulation

GOC reception area

GOC publishes the results of its 2026 registrant workforce and perceptions survey

Government and regulation

03 Sep 2

Prime Minister Andy Burnham Budget meeting with John Healey, Chancellor of the Exchequer in 10 Downing Street

Increases to small business rate relief and national minimum wage announced in Budget

Government and regulation

2 days ago

A woman listens among a group of people sitting at a board table

Seven insights from the GOC

Government and regulation

02 Oct 8 min read 1

Elderly Asian woman being checked with slit lamp microscope

Liberal Democrats adopt Eye care everywhere as party policy

Government and regulation

12 Oct

A road at night with cars on lined with street lights

Drivers continue to struggle with headlight glare, new research reports

Government and regulation

3 days ago

Chosen for you

Sameer and Hannah pose during a sight test. Sameer has turned to the camera. With one hand he holds the control for a slit lamp, and with the other he holds a volk lens up to Hannah’s eye

An optometrist saved my life

Hannah Mockler: “I could have been left with permanent damage to my vision”

Practitioner stories

16 Oct

Exterior of De Montfort University’s Hawthorn Building, home to the university’s Health and Life Sciences faculty

De Montfort’s new optometry degree: increasing eye care accessibility in diverse communities in the East Midlands

Students and pre-regs

2 days ago 10 min read 3

Two co-workers engaged in a business review, examining documents on a laptop screen in a professional setting

GOC testing of sight proposals raise “fundamental concerns,” AOP says

AOP

2 days ago 1

A road at night with cars on lined with street lights

Drivers continue to struggle with headlight glare, new research reports

Government and regulation

3 days ago

A young professional stands outside in an urban landscape

Early career digest

My biggest challenge as a newly-qualified optometrist

Practitioner stories

24 Oct 5 min read