4.0 Trainee logbook

Your logbook should be kept up-to-date throughout your time on the Scheme. The logbook allows you to keep track of your patient encounters.

Download the logbook

In this section

4.1 Logging your patient encounters

Logging patient encounters provides evidence of patients you see, and ensures that you develop the skills needed to enable you to practise safely and effectively when you qualify.

4.2 Keeping a reflective learning portfolio

Guidance on how to maintain a reflective learning portfolio of your patient encounters - an essential part of your time on the Scheme.

4.3 Changes to patient number requirements

Following a GOC consultation, we have made changes to the patient episode requirements for the 2020-21 cohort due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Why have the patient number requirements changed?

Following a GOC consultation, we have made changes to the patient episode requirements for the 2020-21 cohort to reflect the changes in optometric practice that have been accelerated or caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. 

To reflect changing optometric practice, the minimum numbers now give less weight to dispensing, and increased weight to contact lens care and enhanced optometric roles.

The focus on minimum numbers for both patient encounter categories and patient characteristics ensure that trainees gain the breadth of experience required to practise safely and effectively at the point of full registration.

We have included teaching encounters as part of the contact lens category to reflect this important part of practice.