The Optical Services Audit Committee (OSAC) and UK optometry.
In 1989, following a series of legislative moves by the UK Government to remove the 'monopoly' within optical services, a proposal was made to introduce a two-tier system of eye care. Within the two tiers would be a cheap, rapid spectacle prescription assessment that took no account of binocularity or ocular health. The initial response to this within professional groups involved was split, dispensing opticians keen to see the arrival of the system, the optometric profession concerned over the possible health consequences. In order to provide an overview of the situation the General Optical Council proposed the establishment of the Optical Services Audit Committee to investigate the whole of UK eye care services and recommend direction for future developments. The main conclusions of the report produced by this committee are discussed here.
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Melson Wingate Ltd., Bournemouth, UK.
D003254:Consumer Advocacy; D006801:Humans; D008330:Management Audit; D009907:Optometry / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000592:standards / Q000639:trends; D013222:State Medicine; D006113:United Kingdom; D014787:Vision Tests