4 October 2022

New expanding scope of practice guidance

Public health

The College has published new guidance on expanding the scope of practice which enhances and broadens eye care availability in all settings and ultimately improves patient outcomes.

The new College member guidance sets out eight key domains that clinicians need to address when working beyond their core competency and at their maximum capability. The guidance sets out the principles that will support you when moving into a new area of practice, to ensure patient safety and robust governance. 

The eight sections are: 

  1. Training and competence
  2. Legal frameworks
  3. Insurance
  4. Facilities and equipment
  5. Infection control
  6. Clinical governance
  7. Risk assessment
  8. Clinical audit and research.

Expanding your scope of practice not only increases the range of care and treatments you are able to provide to your patients, but contributes toward enhancing your professional development throughout your career.

Further information

Related news

College supporting National Eye Health Week 2023
Low vision Myopia Public health

Review finds there may be no benefit using blue-light filtering spectacles
Dispensing Public health

Oculentis intraocular lens recall
Cataract Policy Public health

Related further reading

Sleep, light and the eye

This article describes sleep and its regulation, and the specific contribution of the eye.

Public health

Molecular biology of two common ophthalmic viruses: relevance to clinical practice

This paper describes how viruses infect, reproduce and damage cells. Knowing this process is critical for understanding how to treat ocular viral infections.

COVID-19 Public health

The optical landscape in numbers

The use of evidence-based optometry Is encouraged, but research can be hard to decipher. We break down some commonly used terms.

Public health Research