Eye Care Workforce

Use of protected titles as part of trading names – GOC position

PCC has recently requested details of the GOC’s position on the use of protected titles as part of trading names by individual GOC registrants.  In their response the GOC points out that, under section 28(1) of the Opticians Act 1989, it would be an offence for an individual who is not registered with the GOC to use a protected title, and similarly under section 28(5) of the Act, it would be an offence for a body corporate which is not registered with the GOC to use a protected title.  However, it is not an offence under section 28 of the Act for an individual registrant to use a protected title, with or without reference to their name, in the trading name of their practice where the practice is not a body corporate. 

(02/06/08) General Ophthalmic Services payments for continuing education and training

On 30 May 2008 DH published a letter (Gateway reference 10009) detailing arrangements for payments for loss of earnings in respect of continuing education and training undertaken by optometrists and ophthalmic medical practitioners on PCT lists and the level of payment in respect of 2007 CET which is payable this year. DH is asking PCT Chief Executives to ensure that staff responsible for General Ophthalmic Services are alerted to the attached and asked to take the appropriate action.

Click here to read the letter in full

Interactive Clinical Governance Website

In February 2007 the optical bodies jointly launched a clinical governance initiative called Quality in Optometry (QiO) in the form of a non-interactive pdf document. Following forther development, it has now been launched it as an interactive website at www.qualityinoptometry.co.uk.

Hosting two Clinical Govenance toolkits (one for England and one for Wales), the site contains up to date optometry standards and is the only format in which the QiO information will be published from now on.

Optometrists to get independent prescribing powers

Health Minister Dawn Primarolo has announced that optometrists will be able to train to prescribe medicines . Patients will soon be examined, diagnosed, and get a prescription during one trip to the opticians. For more details, click here.

Revision to optometry competencies - December 2005

The optometry competencies, together with examples of evidence, were first identified by the NatPaCT Optometry Significant Issues Group. They assisted PCTs in developing and testing competencies in their early years. The competencies have been updated again to incorporate good practice from the national Eye Care Services Steering Group. They will be updated again in 2007 to take account of changes following the GOS Review and (subject to Parliamentary approval) the Health Bill 2005. Click here to download the updated optometry competencies