In order to carry out their role, College Assessors working within the pilot New Scheme for Registration of UK Trained Optometrists will need to have access to the records of patients examined by trainees.
The New Scheme’s Steering Group that includes representatives from FODO, the AOP and the College has considered the implications of this in terms of the need to comply with the requirements of the Data Protection Act, and agreed the following:
- The trainee, at the start of every sight test, must inform the patient that their records may be reviewed by another practitioner for assessment and training purposes and seek their consent to this.
- The patient’s consent must be properly recorded by the trainee on the patient record card. Either oral or written consent is acceptable. Written consent must be signed by the patient.
Chief Executive of the College Bryony Pawinska, who chairs the Steering Group commented “The New Scheme for Registration is in the early stages of its pilot year. The issue of data protection was one that we had to resolve quickly. I am delighted that the various stakeholders represented on the Steering Group have been able to work together to achieve this in a way that addresses the rights of patients and the needs of trainees and assessors. We will be reviewing, on an ongoing basis, the arrangements, documentation and processes put in place for the new Scheme in the light of feedback we receive from assessors, supervisors and pre-registration trainees.”