Council voices concerns about European legislation

The GOC today highlighted key areas of concern about proposed new legislation giving European professionals rights to ‘temporary’ and ‘occasional’ registration in the UK. The European Qualifications Directive would allow qualified European practitioners the right to practise as optometrists and dispensing opticians in the UK without going through the process of full registration. Members voiced concerns that patient safety would be compromised if temporary and occasional registrants were not subject to CET requirements, or did not have adequate insurance. Concerns were also expressed that less information would be available on the register about such individuals than was the case for full registrants. The Council agreed that these issues should be raised in the GOC response to the current consultation.

News – 28 June 2007