Last updated: 3 March 2021
Here you will find the latest updates and links to Government and GOC guidance related to the COVID-19 (coronavirus) emergency.
Below are links to UK-wide guidance on COVID-19 and guidance from devolved governments and others in each of the nations of the UK.
Public:
Registrants:
Registrants:
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Registrants:
In these extraordinary times, we are fortunate that in all four countries of the United Kingdom we have a group of well qualified eye care professionals that can be relied on by the general public and fellow healthcare professionals. This means that our registrants may have to vary their practice for extended periods of time and in challenging circumstances. While registrants are encouraged to work up to the limits of their competence, refresher training and/or supervision may be needed.
Our Standards for Optical Businesses include the following standards to ensure that patient safety is always prioritised:
• Standard 1.1 Patients can expect to be safe in your care:
• Standard 1.2 Patient care is delivered in a suitable environment:
• Standard 3.1 Your staff are able to exercise their professional judgement:
Corresponding standards are also present in the Standards for Optometrists and Dispensing Opticians and the Standards for Optical Students.
We realise that some of our own legislation and regulations may prevent care being delivered effectively during the emergency situation. To address this we’ve published statements to remove any unnecessary regulatory barriers and to reassure our registrants and the sector that we will support them when they act in good conscience and exercise professional judgement for the public benefit.
We will continue to review and publish statements on our legislation and regulatory activities where appropriate. The previous statements on education provision and education quality assurance have been combined into one statement on education.
Many of our statements have a review date of 31 January 2021. We are in the process of reviewing these statements as part of our analysis of the responses to our COVID-19 statements consultation which closed on 7 January 2021. The statements continue to apply in the meantime.
We have completed an assessment on the risk of contracting COVID-19 associated with working in or visiting our office. The assessment will be reviewed on an ongoing basis.
If you are a registrant, please contact your professional association for further advice:
The College of Optometrists website: www.college-optometrists.org
Association of Optometrists website: www.aop.org.uk
Association of British Dispensing Opticians: www.abdo.org.uk
Federation of Ophthalmic and Dispensing Opticians: www.fodo.com
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Information about our upcoming fitness to practise hearings.
Read the latest news from the GOC
We provide various leaflets and booklets for optical patients