At present we have twelve qualified Optometric independent prescribers, working alongside Ophthalmologists, in the Acute Referral Clinics, Anterior segment clinics, Glaucoma, Medical Retina and YAG clinics at the main eye clinic based at St. James’s University Hospital as well as in Glaucoma clinics at Seacroft Hospital and stand alone clinics at Wharfedale General Hospital.
Changes in legislation have extended independent prescribing rights to optometrists, subject to the satisfactory completion of a General Optical Council (GOC) accredited training course.
Optometrists with Independent prescribing qualifications are able to prescribe any licensed medicine for ocular conditions, affecting the eye and adnexa, within their recognised areas of expertise and competence of the individual optometrist.
Optometrists with the Independent prescribing qualification will have the suffix DipTp (IP) (Diploma in Therapeutic prescribing, Independent Prescribing).