Summary
The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) is leading on proposed changes to the UK Human Medicine Regulations 2012 to extend the range of medicines that can be sold or supplied, and in some cases administered, by optometrists and contact lens opticians across the UK.
Consultation description
The UK government, with the Minister of Health in Northern Ireland, is seeking views on these proposals, with a 12-week UK-wide public consultation on the development of legislative proposals to amend the Human Medicines Regulations 2012 (HMRs) to extend the range of medicines that can be sold or supplied, and in some cases administered, by optometrists and contact lens opticians (CLOs) across the UK.
The proposed changes will enable optometrists and CLOs to treat a range of minor eye conditions in the community and reduce the need for patients to see additional healthcare professionals to access medicines, in turn releasing capacity in GP, A&E and other out-of-hours services.
Link to Consultation Documents:
Extend medicines for optometrists and contact lens opticians - GOV.UK
Ways to respond
Consultation closed — responses are no longer being accepted.