In Focus: Prescribing a review

The General Optical Council (GOC) has released the findings of a report it commissioned to investigate optometrist therapeutic prescribing (OTP) and the factors that could affect the uptake of associated qualifications within the industry.

Optometrists in the UK can undertake training with the GOC that, following a successful clinical placement and final assessment, enables them to prescribe a range of medicines for patients with eye conditions. However, the GOC’s report found that progress in upskilling optometrists had been hampered by a range of factors that the regulator said it would consider when reviewing the education and training requirements for its independent prescribing qualifications.