Consultation into extending medicine responsibilities for optometrists launched by DHSC

The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has launched a consultation into the extension of medicine responsibilities for optometrists and contact lens opticians.

The consultation will consider whether eye care professionals should be given responsibility to supply a range of medicines in order to treat minor eye conditions in the community.

The proposals would amend theHuman Medicines Regulations (HMRs), updating the medicines that non-independent prescribing optometrists andcontact lens opticiansare able to sell, supply and potentially administer.

Other changes would include introducing new medicines for treating conjunctivitis, and allowing some topical anaesthetics to be supplied to contact lens opticians for use beyond contact lens fitting.

Discontinued medicines would also be removed from the HMRs.

The changes would apply across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Exemptions for optometrists in the HMRs have not been reviewed since 2012, the DHSC noted.

The proposal comes as part of the Government’s 10-Year Health Plan, which aims to move care from hospitals to the community.

The proposed changes “would unlock the full potential of optometrists and contact lens opticians, cutting red tape and making it easier for patients to get treatment for minor eye conditions, such as allergic conjunctivitis, without the need to visit their GP or hospital unnecessarily – freeing up appointments in hospital and primary care,” Stephen Kinnock, the minister of state for care, said.

Welcoming the announcement, AOP chief executive, Adam Sampson, said it was “good news,” and “rightly focuses on ensuring the public can access treatment for common conditions such as conjunctivitis and hay fever, closer to home.”

Sampson highlighted: “Research we carried out with members and the public revealed that two million GP and A&E appointments every are taken up to deal with eye health issues that optometrists are trained to manage.

“Ensuring optometry can provide the public with a wider range of medicines in the community is essential – we have to stop forcing people to take on the 8am dash for a GP or hospital appointment to treat minor eye conditions. The Pharmacy First scheme has shown there is a better way to provide care to the public, and this plan builds on that success.”

Optometrist and AOP clinical and policy director, Dr Peter Hampson, emphasised: “Our sector has the premises, the equipment and the clinical skills to deliver specialist eye care for a range of conditions. But the profession’s potential is currently being restricted by outdated exemptions within HMR, which too often means optometry has to redirect patients to their GP so that they can be given simple medications for allergies. Widening the access of medicines for all optometrists and contact lens opticians will transform the experience for the public.”

He added: “Commissioned MECS and CUES services, that do so much more, are already shown to take pressure off the NHS. This announcement supports the success of those services and improves care for patients.”

Kinnock explained: “Through our Plan for Change we are shifting more care out of hospital and into the community – getting care to patients’ doorsteps by empowering healthcare professionals in communities.

“As we build an NHS fit for the future, we are putting patients first, delivering care on their doorstep, making the best use of our skilled health professionals, all while boosting productivity and efficiency.”

Practitioners are encouraged to respond to the consultation in order to ensure the Government is delivering on its 10-Year Health Plan commitments, Kinnock said.

The consultation is now open and can be viewed here.