The College of Optometrists

21 July 2006

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The UK’s 13 Health and Social Care regulators have today launched a new leaflet entitled, “Who regulates health and social care professionals?”   The leaflet is the result of a joint initiative by all of the regulatory bodies including the General Optical Council (GOC).

The leaflet provides a useful ‘signposting tool’ for the general public outlining which regulatory body is responsible for monitoring each profession and provides contact details for all of the organisations.

Commenting on what this will mean for the public, Gary Fitzgerald of Action on Elder Abuse said: "We welcome this initiative as a means of giving important information to a wide audience. We know from the calls to our helpline that when the public are unenlightened it interferes with their ability to raise concerns. This document has a real value in educating the public about who they can turn to with their questions.
Health and social care professionals have a unique and powerful role to play where older people are concerned and it's important that people are confident that these same professionals are accountable. This document has our full support."

The leaflet is available online. It is also available in large print and in 12 languages.