ABDO has responded to General Optical Council (GOC) proposals to introduce changes to the continuing education and training (CET) scheme.
As reported by DO Online, the aim of the proposals is make the scheme more flexible and less prescriptive, allowing registrants greater freedom to undertake learning and development which is relevant to their own personal scope of practice.
ABDO head of CET, Alex Webster, commented: “The changes proposed in the GOC CET consultation are overall a positive step towards building a broader approach to life-long learning for GOC registrants. Changing the scheme name to CPD will align optical professionals with other healthcare professions and reduce barriers to inter-professional working.
“Following the coronavirus pandemic, eyecare in the UK will never be the same again as we expect to see rapid developments in more hospital services within primary care. Having a professional education scheme that can be easily recognised should be one aspect of a swifter approach to these changes.
“I am disappointed that peer review is not being considered to be mandatory for all GOC registrants. Dispensing opticians fulfil an essential role as a healthcare professional in the many different settings of optical practice. I would like to see the GOC recognise now is the time to have an equal approach to continuing professional education for DOs. The original mandatory approach to peer review for optometrists and contact lens opticians was based on professional practice risk.
“However, this form of case-based learning is considered a highly effective form of education across healthcare professions and would be equally beneficial for dispensing opticians to help develop their patient care.
“The GOC has shown that the overwhelming majority of DOs already take part in this form of learning – and as there is now the possibility of the GOC allowing a broader approach to online learning post Covid-19, access issues to peer review could be much less of a concern for those DOs who have yet to take part in peer review.”
The GOC CET consultation is live until 20 August 2020. To take part, visit the GOC Consultation Hub here.