AOP encourages members to engage with GOC call for evidence on the Opticians Act
Our response to the GOC’s 16 week call for submissions
The Association of Optometrists (AOP) has welcomed the opportunity to provide evidence and feedback to the GOC on the Opticians Act and associated policies.
The GOC is asking registrants, sector bodies, employers, patients and the public to contribute a body of evidence that will support legislative changes to the Opticians Act (1989).
The call for evidence is linked to planned reforms of health and social care regulators by the Department of Health and Social Care.
Speaking about the importance of providing evidence to the review, Adam Sampson, Chief Executive of the AOP, said: “The GOC’s call for evidence is an opportunity to feed into the future picture of the profession and we encourage all members to have their say. It is an important piece of work in the context of how roles are evolving for optometrists and dispensing opticians and their evolving role in delivering primary eye care services to patients in the community. By helping to shape the Optician’s Act and the regulation that sits around it is hoped we can help future proof and grow the profession as practices move more into the clinical space and increasingly diagnose and treat eye health conditions supported by new and emerging technologies.”
Carolyn Ruston, Policy Director for the AOP added: “We’re pleased to see the GOC are running a four-month consultation, which will allow for comprehensive feedback from our membership alongside in-depth discussion at our Council session in the Summer. We encourage all members to get involved and will be undertaking wide-ranging engagement on the topics to develop our response.”
The consultation will cover a range of areas:
- GOC objectives for legislative reform
- Protection of title, restricted activities and registers
- Regulation of businesses
- Testing of sight
- Fitting of contact lenses
- Sale and supply of optical appliances
- Delivery of remote care and technology
The call for evidence will close on 18 July 2022. Submissions to the consultation can be made online.
Ends
For more information, please contact Serena Box, PR and Media Manager, at the Association of Optometrists, [email protected] or telephone 020 7549 2040.
Notes to Editors
Association of Optometrists
The Association of Optometrists (AOP) is the leading representative membership organisation for optometrists in the UK. We support over 82% of practising optometrists, to fulfil their professional roles to protect the nation’s eye health. For more information, visit www.aop.org.uk