The General Optical Council launches new website

The General Optical Council (GOC) has launched a new website - www.optical.org - to transform the experience of visitors in line with its five-year strategy to become ‘Fit for the Future’ and be recognised for delivering world-class regulation and excellent customer service.

The website was developed following extensive research with optometrists, dispensing opticians, optical students, businesses, education and Continuing Education and Training (CET) providers, patients and the public. Therefore, it has been designed to meet a variety of needs and visitors will be able to interact with content in a quicker and easier way while accessing all the usual features such as the public register and the registrant online portal MyGOC.

What’s new?

Enhanced public register

The public register of optometrists, dispensing opticians and optical businesses, featuring an advanced search function, is quicker, more interactive and easier to use, allowing visitors to search for GOC registrants with ease.

Clear navigation and layout

The website structure has been improved so that it focuses on the most-common tasks visitors come to the site to complete. The main menu navigation also clearly outlines the GOC’s key regulatory functions: Raising Concerns, Registration, Education and CET and Standards and Guidance. The latter was previously hosted on a standalone microsite and is now fully integrated into the new site. 

Sophisticated search function

The updated search tool allows visitors to easily search for the information they are looking for and access a range of publications for registrants, media, patients, the public and the optical sector.

Accessible design

The new website is optimised for mobile and tablet devices, making it easy to access content on the go. It also allows for screen reading and content to be read in large print, ensuring it is fully accessible for all visitors.

User-friendly forms

Whether restoring to the register, applying for registration, registering from overseas, renewing registration or raising a concern, the site uses a range of built-in forms which significantly improves and streamlines the journey for visitors.

Yeslin Gearty, Director of Operations, said: “After considering the feedback of our previous website and undertaking in-depth user research, we are delighted to be able to share this new website which meets the needs of those we interact with. We hope that the new design will make finding and searching for information much easier and quicker and that it will be an overall positive experience for visitors.

We are committed to enhancing our use of digital technology to improve the way we operate, and work is also underway to develop and deliver an improved MyGOC registrant portal. Our five-year strategic plan aims to transform our customer service, build a culture of continuous improvement and deliver word-class regulatory practice, and we believe that this new website is an important step to achieving this.”

Visit the new website at www.optical.org