OO cleared in referral case

The balancing act optometrists have to perform when between waiting patients and the length of time they can spend on a particular patient was highlighted at a GOC disciplinary hearing in which an optometrist has been cleared of allegations that he made an inadequate referral.

Shafqat Zaman who worked at Specsavers in Victoria, Central London had faced disciplinary proceedings after being accused of making an inadequate referral in respect of a 60-year-old woman patient who was found to require eye surgery.

However, after hearing the evidence, expert witness, Professor Stephen Parish, raised questions over how much time optometrists could spend dealing with patients. He said he sympathised with the position they found themselves in.