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Past consultations
2011
2010
2009
2008
2007
2006
2005
2011
Registrants survey
885 registrants responded to our survey about online retention, customer service and communications. You can read the results here:
2011 registrants survey report
Student registrants survey
120 students responded to our survey about student issues. You can read the results here:
2011 student registrants survey report
Fitness to Practise Rules consultation
In February 2011 we consulted on proposed changes to our Fitness to Practise Rules. We are currently considering the responses and will publish the results when they have been fully analysed.
Fitness to Practise Rules consultation document and questions
2010
Fitness to practise information on the register
This consultation considered what information about registrants' fitness to practise should be displayed on our registers. It followed on from work we did last year at our UK-wide Access to the registers consultation events.
Accessibility of Fitness to Practise information - consultation document
A brief summary of the decisions Council made in light of this consultation is available in our news from Council summary. Please see below for a full report of the consultation:
Accessibility of FTP information - summary document
Revalidation: licence to practise
This phase of our revalidation consultation asked whether a ‘licence to practise’ should be used as part of a revalidation scheme for optometrists and dispensing opticians.
Council considered the consultation responses at its meeting on 17 June. Annex two of this Council paper provides an analysis of the consultation responses.
Council agreed that that they would continue to explore the introduction of the Licence to Practise options for those active in clinical practise. Further proposals will be prepared later in the year.
Licence to Practise consultation document
Setting a strategy for 2010-15: phase two
The second phase of our strategy consultation launched in December 2009. Council analysed the responses and agreed the strategy at its meeting on 25 February 2010. The final strategy is available from the policies, protocols and procedures page. A report of the consultation was included in this Council paper.
Setting a strategy for 2010-15: phase 2
Gosod strategaeth ar gyfer 2010-15: cyfnod 2
2009
Investigation Committee guidance
The Investigation Committee guidance is a document to assist the Investigation Committee when it considers what action to take, if any, when considering Fitness to Practise complaints against GOC registrants.
We consulted on this guidance in August 2009. A number of changes were made as a result of the responses received to the consultation and we published the final guidance in April 2010.
Investigation Committee guidance consultation document
Registration fee structure
We launched a consultation in July 2009 to review the structure of its registration fees, including whether optometrists and dispensing opticians should continue to pay the same fee.
Registration fees consultation
Council considered all responses to the consultation and made a decision at its meeting on 18 November. Differential fees for optometrists and dispensing opticians were introduced for the first time. You can read a report of the feedback, and the decisions we made, in the consultation summary.
Registration fees consultation summary
Revalidation: initial proposals
In March 2009 we launched our initial proposals for revalidation. We invited comment from all stakeholders on the scheme and will now analyse the feedback before publishing more detailed proposals for consultation.
We wilare also holding consultation events to allow stakeholders to have their say on revalidation.
Revalidation consultation document
Welsh Language Scheme consultation
In June 2009 we launched a consultation on our draft Welsh Language Scheme, aimed at treating the English and Welsh languages on the basis of equality in Wales.
In light of feedback to the consultation, we changed the scheme to make provisions for some documents aimed primarily at registrants to be available in Welsh, where this is proportionate. We published our Welsh Language Scheme on 24 November 2009 following final approval from the Welsh Language Board.
Welsh Language Scheme
Cynllun Iaith Gymraeg
Setting a strategy for 2010-15: phase 1
In May 2009 the Council was in the early stages of formulating a strategy to guide the Council's work over the period 2010-15. As part of this process, we encouraged partner organisations, patients and the public, individual registrants, and anyone with an interest in our work to have their say on the GOC’s role.
The responses from this initial consultation were analysed and Council used them to formulate its draft strategy for 2010-15.
Five year strategy consultation document
In January, we published proposed revisions to the GOC Codes of Conduct. The consultation period closed on 24 April.
Codes of conduct consultation document
To allow us to hear a range of stakeholder views, we also held a consultation seminar event on 16 April. This was attended by optical bodies, registrants, students, optical patients and members of the public, eye health charities and fellow heatlhcare regulators.
We considered all responses and the new codes of conduct have now been approved by Council. They will come into force from 1 April and are available here. You can read the feedback from the consultation and the Council's reasons behind its decision-making below.
Codes of conduct consultation feedback
2008
Equality and diversity monitoring
We considered a scheme to collect and monitor equality and divserity figures about registrants, in order to meet legal duties to report to Parliament. Following the consultation, equality and diversity monitoring began during the 2009 retention process.
Equality and diversity monitoring consultation
Equality and diversity monitoring Annex 1 (monitoring form)
Committee Constitution Consultation
The Government's 2007 White Paper Trust Assurance and Safety set out a substantial programme of reform for healthcare regulators. This consultation set out the proposed new constitution for the GOC in response to the White Paper.
Committee constitution consultation
Civil standard of proof
We consulted on the implementation of the civil standard of proof, as opposed to the criminal standard, in fitness to practise hearings. This was also a change for all healthcare regulators set out in the 2007 White Paper.
Civil standard of proof consultation
Competencies Consultation
This consultation considered amendments to the competencies which must be demonstrated in order to qualify as an optometrist, dispensing optician, or as a contact lens specialist. The consultation responses are currently being considered and before going to Council for approval.
2007
Equality and Diversity Scheme
We consulted on our equality and diversity scheme and action plan for 2007-9. The final published version is on our policies, procedures and protocols page.
Draft GOC Equality and Diversity Scheme and Action plan
Equality and Diversity Scheme consultation response form
Unified competency framework
This consultation introduced a common structure and terminology between core competencies for qualification as an optometrist, dispensing optician, and the specialty competencies for dispensing opticians in contact lens practice.
Consultation on a unified competency framework
Independent prescribing consultation
This consultation was on changing rules to allow optometrists to qualify and practise as independent prescribers of medicine. After the consultation, courses began in April 2009 at City University, Glasgow Caledonian University and a joint course between Aston and Manchester universities.
GOC Consultation on the Registration Rules for Independent Prescribing
The future of CET
Consultation on amendments to the CET scheme for the cycle commencing on 1 January 2010
CET post 2010: reaching the future
2006
Amendments to CET rules
We reviewed our CET rules in time for the second CET cycle, which began on 1 January 2007.
Draft CET Rules Amendment Order
CET consultation on amendments to rules
Standard of proof consultation
We consulted on which standard of proof should be used for FTP hearings. Following the consultation, we decided to keep the criminal standard of proof. However, this was changed following the Government's 2007 White Paper.
Standard of proof consultation document
2005
CET ideas consultation document
CET ideas consultation document
Results of the CET idea consultation