Sch 1 para 11A
(1) In exercising their functions, the Council shall— (a) have proper regard for— (i) the interests of persons using or needing the services of registered optometrists, registered dispensing opticians or business registrants in the United Kingdom, and (ii) any differing interests of different categories of registrants; (b) co-operate, in so far as is appropriate and reasonably practicable, with public bodies or other persons concerned with— (i) the employment (whether or not under a contract of service) of registered optometrists or registered dispensing opticians, (ii) the education or training of individual registrants or other health care professionals, (iii) the regulation of, or the co-ordination of the regulation of, other health or social care professionals, (iv) the regulation of health services, and (v) the provision, supervision or management of health services. (2) In carrying out its duty to co-operate under sub-paragraph (1)(b), the Council shall have regard to any differing considerations relating to practising as a registered optometrist or a registered dispensing optician, or carrying on a business as a business registrant, which apply in England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland. (3) In sub-paragraph (1), “other health care professionals” means persons regulated by a body mentioned in section 25(3) of the National Health Service Reform and Health Care Professions Act 2002, other than the Council.