GOC publishes final version of new strategic plan

The General Optical Council (GOC) has today published the final version of its strategic plan for the next three years following a public consultation. The new strategic plan will come into force on 1 April.

The strategic plan commits the GOC to playing a more proactive role in promoting public health and safety through the standards it sets for optometrists, dispensing opticians and registered optical businesses. The regulator is also undertaking to deal with complaints more quickly and effectively and to raise public awareness of how the optical professions are regulated.

Samantha Peters, GOC chief executive and registrar, said: “The feedback we received from both the profession and the wider optical sector on our strategic plan was very positive.

“The final strategic plan gives us a clear set of priorities for the next three years, and I look forward to working with colleagues throughout the optical community and other stakeholders to further our aim of protecting and promoting public health and safety.”

The GOC has also published its business plan for 2014/15, which sets out its key priorities and activities for the forthcoming year. These include the regulator’s projects to review the standards registrants must meet and to tackle illegal practice.

Both the strategic plan and the business plan can be found on the GOC website