GOC consults on gender information

The General Optical Council (GOC) is consulting on removing information about a registrant’s gender from the public register.

This follows the findings of the GOC’s consultation on the process for registrants to update their gender on the register, conducted earlier this year.

Some respondents to the earlier consultation, including the Professional Standards Authority (PSA), questioned the need for the GOC to provide information on gender on its register.

Key arguments for removing this information include:

• Only information needed to deliver public protection should be on the register. Removing gender information would better align the GOC’s register with the PSA’s pared down approach determined by Standard 10: Information on the rationale for including the information displayed on the register, including legal requirements where applicable
• The public can ask about gender when making an appointment, if this is important to them
• The GOC is in a minority of regulators by publishing this information

The GOC has said it will continue to collect information about gender (and other protected characteristics) for the purposes of monitoring equality, diversity and inclusion in the professions.

Stakeholders can respond to the consultation on the GOC’s Consultation Hub until 22 December 2023.

Subject to volume and content of responses, the findings will be brought to the GOC’s March 2024 council meeting.