Clean bill of health for GOC

The General Optical Council (GOC) has met all 18 standards for regulators according to a review by the Professional Standards Authority for Health and Social Care (PSA).

The PSA highlighted improvements in the time it takes to progress cases through the fitness to practise system and praised a joint statement with stakeholders on zero tolerance for bullying, harassment, abuse and discrimination.

It also cited the implementation of updated education and training requirements for more than half of existing providers.

Dr Anne Wright, chair of council, said: “I am delighted to welcome the PSA’s latest review, which is a culmination of the hard work and dedication of our GOC staff and members to ensure we met all 18 standards for the second year running.

“The report is testament to our commitment to maintain the positive changes made in relation to the timeliness of fitness to practise investigations and we will continue to make further improvements.”

GOC chief executive and registrar, Leonie Milliner, added: “Meeting all the PSA’s standards for good regulation for a second year provides significant assurance to patients, public and registrants that we are discharging our regulatory responsibilities effectively. We will continue to build on this positive performance review in our ambition to become a world-class regulator.”