General Optical Council Fitness to Practise under the Opticians Act 1989: Procedural Guide to Investigations, Case Examiners, Interim Orders, Hearings, Sanctions, Appeals and Restoration

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Practice notes

Who is the General Optical Council (GOC)

The General Optical Council (GOC), created as a corporate body by the Opticians Act 1989, exists to protect the public by promoting high standards in professional education, conduct and performance. Its purpose is to protect, promote and maintain:

the public’s health, safety and well-being
public confidence in the professions it regulates
professional standards and conduct for Registrants and prospective Registrants
proper standards and conduct for business Registrants

This Practice Note summarises GOC fitness to practise proceedings, investigations, and applications for restoration to the Register. The GOC regulates registered Optometrists and Dispensing Opticians. In this Practice Note, a ‘Registrant’ is:

a registered Optometrist
a Dispensing Optician
student Optometrists
a Registered Business

This Practice Note should be read with the following: Practice Notes—Common principles in fitness to practise proceedings; Criminal proceedings and convictions in healthcare regulatory proceedings; and the specific Practice Note for other healthcare regulators, including:

General Dental Council—fitness to practise proceedings
General Medical Council—fitness to practise

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Sam Thomas

2BR

· Sam is the Vice Chair of the Association of Disciplinary and Regulatory Lawyers (ARDL), and is the Chair of the Sports Law Practise Group. He represents professionals and regulators, primarily in the healthcare sector, in respect of disciplinary proceedings and NHS Performer and Contractor disputes, with appellant experience in the Administrative Court. · Sam’s experience in financial regulation is growing. He regularly represents The Pension Regulator (TPR) in proceedings in the First Tier Tribunal and has recently appeared in the Upper Tribunal in relation significant matters of law. Sam has provided advice to the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). · The Police Federation have instructed Sam to defend police officers accused of police misconduct, and criminal contempt. · He regularly appears before the General Dental Council (GDC), General Optical Council (GOC), UK Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP) and the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC), and has advised with regard to the gamut of...

Web page updated on 21/05/2026

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