Independent Prescribing - are we ready!

The General Optical Council (GOC) welcomed today’s announcement from the Department of Health that optometrists will be able to train to prescribe medicines independently. 

Health Minister Dawn Primarolo today announced,

“Independent prescribing will mean that specially trained optometrists will be able to write a prescription if they diagnose a problem needing treatment, saving the patient from having to make a separate appointment with their GP.”

Read the full story on the Department of Health site here
Read the General Optical Council’s press release here

Roger Buckley, chairman of the GOC’s standards committee said: “This move has the potential to transform the public’s perception of optometrists, as well as the ways in which the country’s eye care services are delivered. Optometrists are highly qualified clinicians but they remain a largely untapped resource in health care, with the capacity to provide high quality, convenient services for patients with a wide range of common and long term eye conditions.

Read the full story on the College of Optometrists webiste here

As far as I understand it, there have only be a select few of us who have undertaken the additional study to Independent Prescribing.  Will today’s announcement make such a difference?  I would like to think so.  But go on, convince me..

Details of City Universty’s post graduate Programme leading to a qualification in therapeutic prescribing may be found here.

Share This