The College of Optometrists

14 November 2006

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The College of Optometrists has coordinated and submitted a response to the review of the non-medical healthcare professions by the Department of Health.

In their response, the optical bodies have welcomed the review and particularly its emphasis on the need for regulation to be proportionate, and risk and evidence based. The optical bodies point out that optometrists, dispensing opticians and ophthalmic medical practitioners do not carry out invasive or life-threatening procedures and emphasize that their response is set against a background of a very high level of skill and training for optometrists and dispensing opticians, high levels of service and patient satisfaction provided by the optical sector, and a very low level of complaints about optical practice.

Commenting on the review, College Chief Executive, Bryony Pawinska said “It’s vital that the profession has the opportunity to have its say on the way it is regulated. We were pleased that the review reflected the comments we had already made in support of the current approach to regulation of the profession, which is both efficient and effective for the public and practitioners alike. In coordinating the sector’s further response, the College has ensured that the profession continues to have its say in this key area of Government policy development, which we hope will result in an approach to regulation that is proportionate, non-bureaucratic and works”.

  Foster response November 2006