News From General Optical Council, UK
At its November meeting of Council, members debated proposals for implementing some of the recommendations outlined in the Government White Paper on healthcare regulation. From November 2008 it will be a statutory obligation to use the civil standard of proof in all Fitness to Practise hearings. GOC hearings currently use the criminal standard of proof, and Council discussed a timeframe for the change over. The White Paper also recommends that Council should become smaller and more board-like and that all members should be appointed according to specified criteria and competencies. Council decided in March that it should reduce its size to no larger than 13 members. Possible skills and competencies for appointed members were considered, along with proposals for a stakeholder engagement strategy.
Therapeutic prescribing - changes to the Registration Rules
This summer the Department of Health announced that optometrists will be able to train to prescribe medicines independently. The decision will enable practitioners to prescribe licensed medicines for ocular conditions affecting the eye and surrounding tissue. Changes to existing legislation are expected to pass through Parliament during spring 2008, and Council discussed changes to the Registration Rules that will create an Independent Prescribing specialty. Registrants wishing to become independent prescribers will have to complete GOC-approved training. Once their training is completed, they must apply to have the specialty entered against their name in the register. Specialty practitioners will have to keep their skills up to date by completing additional CET. The GOC could approve training courses in time to enable recruitment of the first trainees next autumn.
Sale and supply new guidance
Further revisions have been made to professional guidance on the sale and supply of optical appliances. The guidance is issued by the College of Optometrists and ABDO. Legal opinion has been sought to ensure the guidance accurately reflects the law. The Standards Committee reviewed the amended guidance, which was then considered by Council.
Budgets: revised 2007/8 and outline for 2008/9
A revised budget for this financial year anticipates an increased income. This is a result of cautious forecasting, particularly for retention income at the end of the first CET cycle. Costs attributed to implementing the White Paper have been less than expected, due to delays in the legislative timetable. Council approved the draft budget for 2008/9, which is based on the current registration fee of £169. A deficit budget is forecast for reasons that include; increased spending on White Paper implementation and; changes following the EU Directive on temporary and occasional registration.
Registration fees 2008/9
There will be no increase to the GOC full registration fee for 2008/9. Members agreed the fee at the November meeting of Council. Full registrants will continue to pay £169 for registration or retention. Student registration will stay at £20, and restoration £239.The registration fee is currently made up of three components; the core fee, CET levy and Consumer Complaints Mediation Service (CCMS) levy. As CET is a core element of the GOC's work, the CET levy and core registration fee will in future be amalgamated into one component. The CCMS levy will remain a 'stand alone' component of the overall fee.
Equality and Diversity Scheme
Members approved the Council's Equality and Diversity scheme. The main objective of the scheme is to ensure the following areas of the Council's business remain free from discrimination: access to optometry and dispensing optics training; registration as an optometrist or dispensing optician; access to the registers and other public meetings and information; complaints and Fitness to Practise processes, and; employment with or appointment to the GOC. An accompanying action plan establishes the GOC's priorities for the next three years, which includes collecting data from current registrants.
CET - 2010 and beyond
Next month the GOC is set to launch a CET consultation to consider ideas for changes to the next CET cycle, beginning 1 January 2010. At the November meeting of Council, members discussed new and existing principles of the CET scheme that will be included in the consultation. Areas of discussion included a 'rolling' three year cycle, and the possibility of introducing different points requirements for optometrists and dispensing opticians, to reflect different levels of risk. Other possible questions for consultation are: whether registrants should be required to gain points across a spread of competency areas; and whether there should be a restriction on the number of points gained through distance learning. Further details of the consultation will published on the GOC website in the next few weeks.
Committee membership 2008
Council bade a formal farewell to three long-standing members. Roger Buckley, Bob Chappell and James Dunne all retire from Council at the end of the year, having served for more than 50 years between them. Roger Buckley was appointed to the GOC in 1988, and has chaired the Standards Committee since its creation in 1999. Bob Chappell has served on a number of committees since he joined the GOC in 1983. James Dunne has sat as ophthalmologist representative on the Investigation Committee for a decade. They will be replaced by Rob Hogan, appointed by the College of Optometrists, and Nigel Andrews and Ahmed Sadiq, both appointed by the Royal College of Ophthalmologists.
European Directive - temporary and occasional registration
On 20 October 2007, new EU legislation came into force designed to make it easier for qualified professionals to move around Europe. The European Directive on the recognition of professional qualifications means that health care professionals, including optometrists and dispensing opticians, can register to work in other European countries on a temporary and occasional basis. GOC registrants can apply to provide services on a temporary and occasional basis by contacting the equivalent regulatory body in that country. They may be required to fill in a declaration, and provide supporting documents including evidence of indemnity insurance. Anyone using the titles "optometrist" or "dispensing optician" who wishes to practise in the UK on an occasional or temporary basis, will have to be registered with the GOC. They will be assessed on competencies, qualifications and experience, and may be asked to complete an aptitude test.
General Optical Council
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