Vicky McDermott stands down as GOC Chief Executive and Registrar

The General Optical Council (GOC) has today announced that its Chief Executive and Registrar, Vicky McDermott, has stood down to spend more time with her family following the birth of her daughter.

Vicky said:

"I have enjoyed my time at the GOC and I am confident that there are great things to come for the organisation. I am looking forward to pursuing other challenges and spending more time in the North East with my young family."

GOC Chair Gareth Hadley said:

"In Vicky’s time with us the GOC made significant progress with three big projects ensuring that patient safety is maintained through a period of rapid change in the optical sector: our Education Strategic Review, our CET Review and new Business Standards. We also introduced important fitness to practise reforms – our Acceptance Criteria and Consensual Panel Disposal.

"We thank Vicky for her contributions. We wish her and her family all the best for the future, as well as wishing her every success in her future career."

The GOC’s Interim Chief Executive & Registrar, Lesley Longstone, remains in place and the GOC will soon make an announcement in respect of its plans to make a permanent appointment to the role.

For further information please contact:

Communications Team

General Optical Council

t: 020 7307 3478 – option 3

e: communications@optical.org

Notes to editors:

Vicky McDermott joined the GOC on 4 September 2017.

About the General Optical Council:

The GOC is the regulator for the optical professions in the UK. Its purpose is to protect the public by promoting high standards of education, conduct and performance amongst opticians. The Council currently registers over 30,000 optometrists, dispensing opticians, student opticians and optical businesses.