Consultation on draft standards for the use of exemptions by orthoptists to sell, supply and administer medicines

This consultation has now closed.

The HCPC is seeking views on draft standards for the use of medicines exemptions by orthoptists.

The government has recently introduced exemptions in medicines legislation which will enable appropriately trained orthoptists to sell, supply and administer certain prescription only medicines on their own initiative.

We have developed a new set of standards which set out the following:

· Requirements for education providers delivering training for orthoptists on using exemptions to sell, supply and administer medicines; and

· The required skills, knowledge and understanding that orthoptists will need to demonstrate in order to use exemptions safely and effectively in their practice.

Once the changes to medicines legislation come into force, the HCPC would use these standards to approve relevant post-registration training programmes and would annotate the Register entries of orthoptists who have completed this training and are able to use the exemptions in their practice.

You can download a copy of the consultation document below. You will need to refer to this when responding.

There are a number of ways to respond to the consultation:

Complete our online survey
Email your comments to: consultation@hcpc-uk.org
Write to us at:

Consultation on standards for use of exemptions by orthoptist
Policy and Standards Department
Health and Care professions Council
Park House
184 Kennington Park Road
London
SE11 4BU

The closing date for responses is Tuesday 3 May 2016. We look forward to receiving your feedback.

If you would like to receive a copy of the consultation in hard copy, in Welsh or in an alternative format, please contact us by emailing consultation@hcpc-uk.org or by phoning +44(0)207 840 9815.