GOC Consultation on temporary changes to the Optometry Handbook

The consultation

In July 2020 the GOC consulted on temporary changes, for the 2020/21 academic year, to the requirements for optometry education programmes leading to registration through revisions to the Optometry Handbook and Supervision policy. These were to the regulations for both Stage 1- undergraduate courses – and Stage 2 – the pre-registration scheme.

Our response

 

GOC Stage 1 – Patient Episodes

Do you support the above proposed changes?

Fully support

Partially support

Do not support

Do not have a view

If you believe the proposed changes will cause negative impacts, what are they and how do you suggest they could be managed?

The proposed changes are broadly sensible to enable delivery during the pandemic, but there are some areas that need clarification.

The draft new material for the Handbook on patient experience categories A – F should be amended to clarify the minimum requirements for each category of experience, to avoid confusion and inconsistency. For instance:

• The references to “a low student-patient ratio” in category A (primary care experience, page 11) and category E (spectacle dispensing experience, page 15) are open to interpretation. The GOC should ensure that there is a clear understanding of expectations between it and providers as to the acceptable ratios to avoid misunderstanding.
• The proposed new introductory material on “Types of patient episodes” (page 8) includes a statement that “Experience must enable individual students to develop their professional independence” – it is not clear what this means in isolation, but we understand from discussion with the GOC that it relates to experiences with a higher student-patient ratio than 1:1. It would be helpful to spell this out.
• In category A (page 11) it is also not clear how the 18 “episodes” differ form the 8 “complete eye examinations”, given that the first paragraph of this section says experiences must constitute all components of a sight test
• It is not always clear when the required quantity of patient experience in a category is a hard minimum which requires the involvement of real patients.
  • For instance, we understand from discussion with the GOC that the 7 hours’ clinic time in category F (abnormal eye conditions, page 16) is intended to be a hard minimum requirement, which cannot be partially replaced by other types of experience such as simulated scenarios, but this is not clear from the proposed new text on page 8, which implies that only 45% of experience need be with real patients.
  • The reference to “at least two” patients in category C (binocular vision and paediatric experience, page 13) does not make it clear whether these must be real patients
  • Category F also no longer includes any reference to clinic experience being supplemented by other types of experience. Given the importance of training in abnormal eye conditions, and the likely limitations on clinical placements in hospital during the pandemic, it is important that providers offer supplemental experience of this type, and we think this should be made clear in the Handbook.

GOC Stage 1 – Validity of Certificate of Clinical Competency for Optometry

Do you support the above proposed changes?

To grant the temporary extension

Fully support

Partially support

Do not support

Do not have a view

To remove the 2-year validity limit

Fully support;

Partially support

Do not support

Do not have a view

If you believe the proposed changes will cause negative impacts, what are they and how do you suggest they could be managed?

No comments

GOC Stage 2 – Patient Episodes

Do you support the above proposed changes?

Fully support

Partially support

Do not support

Do not have a view

If you believe the proposed changes will cause negative impacts, what are they and how do you suggest they could be managed?

We think the proposed 10% reduction in patient episodes for GOC stage 2 is a reasonable temporary measure in response to the pandemic. And, we welcome the new reference to paediatric experience in this section of the Handbook.

There are some points in the wording of the revised standards which we think need attention:

• The new draft material does not make any minimum provision for refractive examinations, dispenses or contact lens patients, unlike the current Handbook. Since the need for infection prevention and control measures during the pandemic may create commercial pressures for pre-reg students to spend less time on sight testing than at present, it will be important for the GOC to make suitable monitoring arrangements to ensure that this cohort of pre-reg students obtains a properly balanced range of clinical experience.
• The new draft material (page 18) says it is “the responsibility of the provider and/or the supervisor” to make alternative arrangements if it proves difficult for a student to achieve the required patient experience. The use of “and/or” here does not provide clear responsibility or accountability. Given the likely challenges of arranging patient experience during the pandemic, we think it is important for accountability on this to be clear.

GOC Supervision Policy

Do you support the above proposed changes?

Fully support

Partially support

Do not support

Do not have a view

If you believe the proposed changes will cause negative impacts, what are they and how do you suggest they could be managed?

No comments