The GOC held its third Council meeting of the year yesterday. Agenda items included discussing findings from its thematic review into commercial practices and patient safety; approving the response to its CPD reform consultation; noting its response to the Lord Mann review of antisemitism and other forms of racism in the NHS and healthcare regulatory system; discussing the 2026 UK Optical Education Report; and approving the GOC's Annual Report and EDI Annual Report.
The GOC has decided to suspend Emma Foster, a dispensing optician based in Livingston, from its register for twelve months. The GOC has also decided to suspend George Kelly, an optometrist based in Glasgow, from its register for three months.
New findings from the GOC's 2026 registrant workforce and perceptions survey show that registrants are cautiously optimistic about the potential of artificial intelligence (AI) to support eye care, while highlighting a need for greater understanding of the technology and some concerns to be addressed.
The positions are open to all GOC-registered optometrists and dispensing opticians. Reviewers help ensure GOC registrants are undertaking CPD appropriate to their scope of practice and professional development needs, while maintaining good-quality CPD records.
The GOC has published updated Hearings and Indicative Sanctions guidance, which improves clarity for Fitness to Practise Committees (FtPCs) when considering applying sanctions as part of fitness to practise proceedings.
The GOC is encouraging registrants to review their progress and carry out and log Continuing Professional Development (CPD) activity regularly as the 2025-27 CPD cycle reaches its halfway point.
The GOC is launching a consultation on a draft updated statement on the testing of sight and draft revisions to the supervision/delegation standard in the Standards of Practice for Optometrists and Dispensing Opticians and the Standards for Optical Students.
The GOC has appointed Janice McCrudden as its first Head of Optometric Advice to ensure its work is informed by high‑quality, independent clinical insight and professional expertise across its core functions.
The GOC has signed up to the Workforce Race Equity in Health and Social Care: Shared Principles for Regulators to help tackle longstanding racism experienced by health and social care staff.
The General Optical Council (GOC) has decided to erase Bansri Rughani and Sapna Bariya from its register, and suspend Meera Patel and Maneeka Kothari from its register for two months.
