Practitioners will be required to report malpractice by colleagues uncovered during peer reviews to the General Optical Council.
Peer review will be a requirement when earning some of the continuing education and training points in the next cycle of CET starting in 2013.
A handout on peer reviews from the College of Optometrists included in the delegate packs at the National Optometric Conference (NOC) last week said there might be circumstances under which one practitioner may need to report another.
'It is crucial that an open forum is maintained to enable constructive discussion and participants must be clear that they are not there to criticise or judge each other. Registrants are, however, still bound by the GOC's Code of Conduct. Therefore, should an issue arise which gives serious concern about the fitness to practise of another practitioner, they must bring this to the attention of the facilitator. The facilitator must then bring this to the attention of the GOC,' read the advice which is later endorsed in a footnote.
The question was also raised following GOC registrar Samantha Peters' talk at the NOC.
Scott Mackie, a high profile proponent of peer review, asked if peers would have to report one another following reviews should they be, for example, prescribing in a dangerous manner. Peters said: 'It's going to be rare but you should come to the GOC.'
Paul Newell, Sefton LOC, suggested some practitioners may not want to present their reviews in front of other practitioners. Peters said: 'That's why we have model cases for those who find it difficult.'
Delegates heard from a number of presenters who gave positives reports of peer review. 'It's by far the most interactive way to learn,' said Mackie.
A presentation from Trevor Warburton, Stockport LOC, encouraged practitioners to get involved and stressed the non-confrontational nature of peer review. He also hoped the use of review would revitalise ailing optical societies.