View from ABDO: Slow progress in IP is very disappointing

The Optical Confederation Joint Education Committee recently set up working groups to better influence the GOC education review. I represent ABDO on the independent prescribing working group. You might ask ‘what has IP got to do with dispensing opticians?’

The relationship between dispensing optician and optometrist is akin to pharmacist and doctor. I believe our relationship should extend beyond sight test prescriptions, to those medical prescriptions within the remit of therapeutically qualified optometrists.

The slow progress in IP in the UK is very disappointing. In other countries where optometrists have earned this right, most optometrists have sought to get themselves qualified, and IP has quickly entered undergraduate training. UK optometrists and DOs have also been slow to uptake their right to dispense a range of medicines. The selection on sale in most practices is poor, and the average optometrist recommends the patient visits their GP or pharmacy where they may be recommended an outdated product.