The National Prescribing Centre (NPC) will provide information about what its work will entail, what the General Optical Council's role will be, and what government changes are needed to move on prescribing rights, at the event on Thursday (December 11) at the General Dental Council offices in London. It will be hosted by the GOC.
Director of standards Melanie Carter said: 'The event is for anyone who is interested in the developments for optometrists' prescribing rights. We realise there is a lot of interest in this, especially as it fits in with Eye Plan pathways and changing role of optometrists.'
The NPC will spend the next three months establishing the competencies for optometrists. After that, a broad curriculum will be developed, courses run and legislative changes made ahead of independent prescribing status in 2005. Supplementary rights begin next year, though issues such as access to patient records need to be discussed beforehand.
Next week's invited guests include practitioners, educational providers and professional bodies. However, limited spaces remain for readers. Contact the GOC on: 020 7580 3898.
samantha.daltonrbi.co.uk
The body responsible for developing the competency framework which will govern prescribing rights for optometrists will be updating the profession on the issue at a meeting next week.