12 September 2024
We are seeing more and more people visit us, as patients recognise that the expertise of the optometrist goes beyond the refractive test. Patients are actively seeking our professional advice for solutions to their eye health that would otherwise require a hospital visit.
Our optometrists are highly qualified professionals and at Specsavers we encourage them to develop their clinical skills by pursuing further qualifications. This commitment not only helps to reduce the pressure on the NHS by enabling more comprehensive eye care within the community, but also fosters professional growth and job satisfaction among our teams.
Extending your skills as an optometrist
Becoming an independent prescribing (IP) optometrist provides many benefits, including elevating your level of clinical eye care, convenience for patients, and helping to reduce the pressure on overstretched hospital eye services.
The qualification splits into three parts:
- Attending a course
- Undertaking a clinical placement
- Completing an examination.*
IP provides the authority to assess patients, make clinical decisions, and prescribe medications.
“As well as helping to fund the optometrist’s enrolment on the IP course, at Specsavers we have launched the Advancing Clinical Excellence (ACE) Independent Prescriber Programme, which bolsters the internal support to further enhance IP skills.
“This offering includes dedicated CPD content, study aids, revision sessions, networking opportunities, and an IP Viva Engage group to suit those at all stages of their IP journey and beyond,” said Neil Retallic, Specsavers Head of Professional Development.
Suresh Mahandru, Specsavers optometrist partner, shares his qualifications gained with Specsavers support, and his experience of completing IP.
Why the independent prescribing course is so beneficial
Optometrists Omair Khan and Mohammad Hamza Anwar work in Wales and are both in the process of completing the qualification. Since the change in Welsh regulations in eye health, the qualification has become foundational to their practice.
Khan said: “For me, it’s about providing comprehensive care. With the IP qualification, we can offer more services in-store, almost like GPs for the eyes. Hamza’s achievements have also inspired me; he was my student, but now I’m learning from him as he’s ahead in the course.”
Anwar added: “I wanted to build on my certifications and the IP qualification helps us manage more patients, which is crucial given long waiting times with hospitals at the moment.”
Michael Bradbury, Clinical Performance Consultant for Wales, delivers the regional IP CPD sessions and added: “The IP qualification is imperative in driving and delivering more cost-effective care within our communities. It will reduce the burden on hospitals and provide high quality clinical care at a place that’s most convenient for the patient. It’s what Specsavers is all about.”
* The new IP courses at Aston and Cardiff do not require the College of Optometrists Therapeutics Common Final Assessment.
