The College of Optometrists

1. can you only diapense under 16 by a registered optician, what if you have a store with no DO?

2. What procedures have to be followed before adults can use a NHS repair voucher?

3.How do you register to provide NHS services?

1)then the Rx can't be dispensed

1a) or given out to the child if already made up. Must be by optican or supervisd by optician

2) Adults can ONLY claim a repair voucher for glasses unavoidably broken by their illness (for example, if the specs broke due to a fit). They may need a supporting doctors letter and the claim has to be aproved by ptc before repairs/ replacement is made. There is no other exceptions for adults.

3) you have to register with your local PTC, phone them and get an application form, expect to need references and have proof of your name etc (birth cert., etc)

palfo

thanks

At my practise, we have no DO's and Optoms are usually busy and hence the normal optical assisstants dispense the kids. I now it's illegal to dispense a child under the age of 16 by anyone, except registered DO's and OPtoms. But when i asked my supervisor, he said it was okay for OA's to dispense, am a bit confused there?

OAs could dispense children under 16 if under the supervision of a registered optician. That means you take legal responsibility for their action, if you do it properly it means you need to double check PDs and be happy with the choice of frame lenses etc.

Non registered staff can not legally dispense to children under 16 in any other circumstances.