In another attempt to save money (by reallocating resources), this government plans to give optometrists the power to prescribe drugs for conditions such as dry eye syndrome and conjunctivitis.
They say this will make “care more convenient” and will “free up GPs to concentrate on other areas”
I agree with Rhod Daniel, chairman of BMA, that “the safety of the patient must always take precedence over convenience and economics”.
A recent report by Which? Found that many people leave opticians with inaccurate prescriptions and that of 39 eye examinations they studied, 17 were poor or very poor because essential tests were missed.
Give optometrists the power to prescribe drugs such as antibiotics and steroids? I’m not convinced.
