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Independent Prescribing for Optometrists - 28th August 2007

According to a press release from the Department of Health, optometrists will soon have the opportunity to trian for qualification as independent prescribers.  Optometrists who wish to take on independent prescribing responsibilities will undertake training provided by a Higher Education Institution and accredited by the General Optical Council (GOC).  Optometrists' prescribing practice will be informed by guidelines from the College of Optometrists, and qualified practitioners will need to apply for speciality registration with the GOC.
Once trained, optometrists will be able to prescribe any licensed medicine for ocular conditions, affecting the eye and the issues surrounding the eye, within the recognised area of expertise and competence of the optometrist.  Medicines for non-ocular conditions and controlled drugs will not be prescribable.  Once qualified optometrists will have to undertake continued education and training to keep their skills up to date and maintain their speciality registration as a prescriber with the GOC.  The proposed changes would apply throughout the United Kingdom in both the NHS and the independent and voluntary sectors.