We fully support optometrists to develop professionally as they are increasingly involved in managing patients with more complex needs and in delivering a wider range of eye care. We believe this enhances and broadens the eye care available in primary and secondary settings to help improve patient outcomes and access to treatment. Some treatment options or investigations may involve clinical procedures or interventions that require further training or qualifications (beyond core competencies) and governance.
We have therefore developed guidance that sets out the key principles we believe are necessary to consider when deciding if a new procedure or activity requires additional training or support to provide them safely and effectively.
We welcome feedback from members, non-members and stakeholders, which we will consider before publishing the final version.
Please review the proposed guidance and complete the form below and tell us your views by Monday 18 April 2022 (this consultation is now closed).
There is a growing need for health care professionals to work beyond the competencies gained from their entry level professional registration. Optometrists are increasingly involved in managing patients with more complex needs which would previously be managed exclusively by other health care professionals, particularly in hospital eye care services. The expansion and development of health professional roles will continue as populations and need change over time, with new care pathways evolving that deliver safe and effective care to improve patient outcomes and best utilise the available workforce. The College of Optometrists supports further opportunities for optometrists to develop professionally by delivering a wide range of eye care pathways, which will enable your scope of practice to evolve depending on the services you provide.
Your “scope of practice” is the limit of your knowledge, skills and experience in which you can practice safely, effectively and lawfully. The General Optical Council’s (GOC) Standards for Optometrists and Dispensing Opticians set clear expectations of registrants when they start practising, supported by our Guidance for Professional Practice. However, your scope of practice will change as your knowledge, skills, and experience develop. Local population needs and the local eye care services provided will also shape or influence your scope of practice.
The College encourages optometrists to safely expand their scope of practice. This will both enhance and broaden eye care available within primary and secondary care settings and ultimately improve patient outcomes.
Some treatment options or investigations for eye conditions may involve clinical procedures or interventions that require further training or qualifications (beyond core competencies) and governance. This document sets out the principles that will support you when deciding whether a particular procedure or therapeutic activity falls within your scope of practice, or when moving into a new area of practice, to ensure patient safety.
Within this guidance we have used the administration of intravitreal injections as an example to show how these principles should be applied. However, the principles in this guidance are applicable to all relevant clinical activities and procedures that are above those expected of an optometrist at entry level registration.