Scottish health boards recognise role of DOs

Two Scottish health boards have agreed to set voluntary listing arrangements for DOs in their area following lobbying from optical committees and community health partnerships.

Since partial deregulation of dispensing in the mid-1980s, registered dispensing opticians have not been listed in the same way as other healthcare professionals by the health boards in Scotland.

It is hoped that the agreement by Forth Valley and Fife health boards to have all DOs listed and put through Disclosure Scotland could bring listing arrangements a step closer north of the border.

A number of other Scottish health boards have also indicated that they would be in favour of DOs being formally listed. The campaign to have DOs listed was led by Optometry Scotland and ABDO and comes at a time when the Scottish government is pressing ahead with objectives focusing on children and vulnerable groups and listing DOs would be compatible with those aims.