637. External regulation.

The General Optical Council¹ is subject to the oversight of the Professional Standards Authority for Health and Social Care² and must in the exercise of its functions co-operate with the Authority³.

Where it considers that a decision is not sufficient (whether as to a finding or penalty or both) for the protection of the public⁴, the Professional Standards Authority for Health and Social Care has powers to refer to the High Court a direction⁵ by the fitness to practise committee of the General Optical Council⁶, a final decision of that committee not to take any disciplinary measure⁷, and a decision