GPs show support for OO prescribing role

GPs are overwhelmingly in favour of optometrists prescribing ocular therapeutic drugs according to new research conducted jointly by optician and its sister publication Doctor.

The survey found that 94 per cent of GPs were in favour of optometrist prescribing in principle, rising to 96 per cent provided suitable training were given. Levels of support have increased since previous optician research was conducted; in 2002, 89 per cent of GPs surveyed were in favour in principle.

The new survey also revealed wide support among doctors for NHS funding for optometrists to manage and treat eye disease (93 per cent in favour) and for direct referral by optometrists to ophthalmologists (95 per cent in favour). A similar proportion of GPs (91 per cent) were satisfied with the quality of current referrals via optometrists in their area, although only around one in three were 'very satisfied'. 

Following the introduction in June of legislation allowing optometrists access to an expanded list of drugs, the survey also investigated GPs' attitudes to the profession managing specific eye conditions and tested their awareness of the drugs that optometrists can now legally prescribe.

More than eight out of 10 GPs believed all optometrists could manage conjunctivitis and blepharitis, and almost all (95 per cent) said they could manage dry eye. These were also the conditions that GPs were currently most likely to manage in their practices rather than refer for specialist care.

Treating with chloramphenicol was GPs' preferred management option for adults or children presenting in their practices with bacterial conjunctivitis. But when asked which professionals were best equipped to differentially diagnose red eye, more respondents opted for optometrists than GPs (60 per cent vs 40 per cent) and only three GPs said pharmacists were best equipped.  

Commenting on the survey, College of Optometrists' chief executive Bryony Pawinska said: 'The College welcomes the findings of the latest optician research, which demonstrates GPs' support for the primary health care role that optometrists can provide.

'Read in conjunction with the results of the consumer research undertaken for the College in association with optician earlier in the year, which showed overwhelming levels of patient satisfaction with optometrists, it is clear that the opportunity is there for optometrists to become the first port of call for people who have a problem with their eyes.'

The Royal College of General Practitioners was more cautious in its response. Chair of the College's prescribing committee, Dr James Kennedy, said: 'Most GPs in the survey have a positive attitude to opticians as fellow clinicians and are supportive of expanding the list drugs that opticians can prescribe after further training. Direct optician to ophthalmologist referrals would also make sense in many situations.' 
 However, he added that it would be interesting to get more information on the views of GPs not responding to the survey, who might have more conservative attitudes to the current changes and developments of the profession's role.

The optician/Doctor survey was sent by email to approximately 5,000 GPs in October. A total of 783 responses were received, representing a response rate of 16 per cent. The full results of the survey will be published in a future issue of optician.