Profession is positive on prescribing rights move

Optical bodies have welcomed health minister Dawn Primarolo's announcement on Tuesday confirming that optometrists will soon be able to train to get independent prescribing rights for any licensed medicine for ocular conditions affecting the eye and the tissues surrounding it.

As reported last week (News, August 24), the DoH has confirmed that optometrists must undertake further training before gaining independent prescribing rights and, just like other prescribers, they will only work with the conditions within their areas of expertise.

Primarolo said: 'Optometrists are trained eye health professionals. Enabling independent prescribing will not only allow them to make better use of their skills, but will also mean greater convenience for patients.'