The Government’s reform plans for the NHS in England, which represent the most significant changes in a decade, offer opportunities for optometry but also carry some risks.

The proposed reforms cover significant changes to procurement regulations and competition rules in the NHS in England and provisions for ‘Henry VIII powers’ for the Secretary of State to make changes to professional regulation

The General Optical Council (GOC) has announced Dr Anne Wright CBE as Chair of Council. Dr Wright will follow Gareth Hadley OBE who has been Chair for eight years.

Practitioners and students are being invited by the Association of Optometrists (AOP) to put themselves forward as AOP Council representatives.

They(the OFNC) have proposed potential models for this to NHS England and discussions are ongoing.

The Professional Standards Authority (PSA) has filed an appeal against the GOC Fitness to Practise Committee’s decision to suspend Ms Honey Rose for a period of nine months.

The College of Optometrists has launched new tools and guidance to support effective remote triage during this phase of the pandemic.

ABDO College has appointed three new trustees.The new trustees are as follows:

We (the GOC) recognise that these are really challenging times for our registrants who are working on the front line as healthcare professionals delivering the nation’s eye care needs.

Following last year’s prominent petition over trading and marketing during the first lockdown another has been tabled some 2 weeks ago