ABDO has responded to the General Optical Council’s (GOC) consultation on its draft strategy for 2025-30, calling on the regulator to “set out a clear vision to guide its work over the next five years that will ensure that the public is protected while minimising the fees paid by registrants”.
The Association said it “welcomed the GOC’s commitment to agile regulation, especially as the traditional regulatory levers are not always effective” – citing the supply of products and services by overseas businesses, where action is needed to raise patient awareness of the risks, as an example of this.
ABDO also highlighted the need for the GOC to take account of important developments in eyecare, notably myopia management, and to recognise the role that dispensing opticians can play in providing advice and treatment to patients.
ABDO CEO, Alistair Bridge, commented: “The pace of technological change, and developments in patient care, makes it vital for the GOC to be agile in its approach and have a clear vision to guide its work.
“But to avoid ‘mission-creep’ – and minimise the financial burden on registrants – this vision should have a clear focus on public protection.”