Now consider the following case.

Case Study

A 7-year-old boy attends your practice with his parent. They are new to your locality, having previously lived in another part of the UK, and the boy has broken his spectacles on the first day at his new school. His parent presents the following prescription for a replacement pair of spectacles. This had been issued from a hospital some 14 month previously.

R: +5.50/-1.25 x 180

L: +6.75/-1.00 x 170

His parent says he needs the glasses ‘as soon as possible’ as they help to control his ‘squint’ (a very apparent left convergent strabismus) as well as improving his vision. They also remember that the hospital had ‘used drops’ for his last test and hope this will not need to be done again.

To gain your CET point you are required to discuss the following with another GOC registered practitioner and consider the following:

  • What would be the best course of action in your practice to help this boy?

Remember, there may be a divergence of views – we simply need to know what you and your colleague think and why. Remember, there may not be one single correct course of action and your response should reflect not just your own views, but local and national guidance and protocols. Make sure you address the following;

  • Should new spectacles be issues as soon as possible and, if so, should there be a retest and should this include cycloplegia?
  • Need this boy continue to be under hospital care and why might this be? Remember he is 7 years old. How would you ensure future hospital care in your area?
  • If you intend to take on his future care, does your practice need to correspond with anyone?

Remember, your interaction should last for at least 10 minutes (and completion of the submission will be taken as your statement that this is true) and you will be required to submit the outcome of your discussion along with the name and GOC number of the person with whom you have interacted below;

Once you submit your responses, our review team will either;

  • Confirm completion and an interactive CET point
  • Ask by email for further clarification
  • Suggest that too little information was submitted this time for a point to be awarded.
  • At the end of the month’s active period we will confirm that your discussion outcome meets the requirement for an interactive point