Discussion
Why is independent prescribing important?
In my own opinion, I feel that independent prescribing is important to the society, as it does not take up medical professional skills and their valuable time. Independent prescribing over time will help to take pressure of the health system as well as the workload. It also ensures there are a reduction in the “unnecessary A and E and hospital admissions”, suggested by Royal College of nursing 2012. This will help to increase efficiency throughout the service, meaning that medical practitioners can spend their time on more complex patients who are at greater risk of infections or sight loss. As I have mentioned before, the Crown Report examined the advantages of extending prescribing onto other health professionals. The report stated “Optometrists’ expertise relating to the eye and visual system, coupled with the use of specialised diagnostic instruments, is the basis of the care they provide in the community, including domiciliary visits. Having established a diagnosis, prescribing would allow them to provide effective treatment for emergency eye conditions and non-sight-threatening eye conditions”. (Review of Prescribing, Supply and Administration of Medicines, Department of Health 1999) In the Optometric practice, Optometrists are well placed, for example, they have a slit lamp to look at the anterior health of the eye compared to a GP. As well as this, they also have other specialised equipment such as, non-contact and contact tonometry or a visual field analyser. In some practices, they also may have an Ocular Coherence Tomography (OCT) machine, in the future I see that more practices will use an OCT as an additional test to carry out eye examinations as an OCT will help to pick up subtle changes of the health in the eye. There would also be less anxiety for patient’s especially older patient as they would be able to go to their personal familiar Optometrist. Stress levels for the patient would also be lower than a hospital, as people may be apprehensive attending hospitals. Within a hospital setting stress can be related to car parking, as there is limited amount of spaces, as well as having to pay for parking, or taking public transport. Independent prescribing would also ensure that there is flexibility of appointments. As a student Optometrist, I feel …show more content…
NHS. (2015).
There appear to be limited disadvantages on NMP, however some which have been noted is safety and cost.
As shared care schemes are increasing, and more practitioners are getting involved within these schemes, I feel that having an additional IP qualification, would ensure that the practitioner would have a wider scope of practice.
Future in UK
Optometrists everyday are becoming more involved in managing eye conditions within the Optometric setting. I also believe that Optometrists will expand their skills with higher qualifications. By expanding their skills this enables them to manage more conditions within the setting. For the future, I see that Optometrists will be working more within a hospital setting. Within this setting they could obtain an extended role with delivering appropriate management and treatment. These extended roles could be delivering macular treatment for patients who are experiencing a macular disorder/ disease. I believe that Optometrists will be monitoring patients who have AMD, once the treatment has been finished. I also see that Optometrists may also become more involved within Glaucoma Clinic’s. The
Why is independent prescribing important?
In my own opinion, I feel that independent prescribing is important to the society, as it does not take up medical professional skills and their valuable time. Independent prescribing over time will help to take pressure of the health system as well as the workload. It also ensures there are a reduction in the “unnecessary A and E and hospital admissions”, suggested by Royal College of nursing 2012. This will help to increase efficiency throughout the service, meaning that medical practitioners can spend their time on more complex patients who are at greater risk of infections or sight loss. As I have mentioned before, the Crown Report examined the advantages of extending prescribing onto other health professionals. The report stated “Optometrists’ expertise relating to the eye and visual system, coupled with the use of specialised diagnostic instruments, is the basis of the care they provide in the community, including domiciliary visits. Having established a diagnosis, prescribing would allow them to provide effective treatment for emergency eye conditions and non-sight-threatening eye conditions”. (Review of Prescribing, Supply and Administration of Medicines, Department of Health 1999) In the Optometric practice, Optometrists are well placed, for example, they have a slit lamp to look at the anterior health of the eye compared to a GP. As well as this, they also have other specialised equipment such as, non-contact and contact tonometry or a visual field analyser. In some practices, they also may have an Ocular Coherence Tomography (OCT) machine, in the future I see that more practices will use an OCT as an additional test to carry out eye examinations as an OCT will help to pick up subtle changes of the health in the eye. There would also be less anxiety for patient’s especially older patient as they would be able to go to their personal familiar Optometrist. Stress levels for the patient would also be lower than a hospital, as people may be apprehensive attending hospitals. Within a hospital setting stress can be related to car parking, as there is limited amount of spaces, as well as having to pay for parking, or taking public transport. Independent prescribing would also ensure that there is flexibility of appointments. As a student Optometrist, I feel …show more content…
NHS. (2015).
There appear to be limited disadvantages on NMP, however some which have been noted is safety and cost.
As shared care schemes are increasing, and more practitioners are getting involved within these schemes, I feel that having an additional IP qualification, would ensure that the practitioner would have a wider scope of practice.
Future in UK
Optometrists everyday are becoming more involved in managing eye conditions within the Optometric setting. I also believe that Optometrists will expand their skills with higher qualifications. By expanding their skills this enables them to manage more conditions within the setting. For the future, I see that Optometrists will be working more within a hospital setting. Within this setting they could obtain an extended role with delivering appropriate management and treatment. These extended roles could be delivering macular treatment for patients who are experiencing a macular disorder/ disease. I believe that Optometrists will be monitoring patients who have AMD, once the treatment has been finished. I also see that Optometrists may also become more involved within Glaucoma Clinic’s. The