Standing orders in Optometry

Abstract

Responses from the recent workforce survey showed that many dispensing opticians were looking at ways they can expand their scope of practice and what tasks they can perform as a health professional. One mechanism that is already in place are standing orders, which can authorise a specified person or class of people (e.g., dispensing opticians) who do not have prescribing rights to administer and/or supply specified medicines. This talk will detail exactly what standing orders are, what the requirements are, and go through an example of a situation in optometry for when a standing order may be useful.