2.2.3: Work within laws & codes/guidelines set by regulator & profession

Question 1

What are the GOC Standards of Practice?

Answer 1

• Students/Preregs, Optoms/DOs, Optical Businesses
• Define standards of behaviour and performance expected of all registered optoms -> so all pxs treated to same level -> to protect public
• Students/Pre-regs vs fully qualified -> very similar but 18 standards vs 19 standards
• Extra one: keep knowledge & skills up to date - CPD
• Covers communication, consent, compassion, recognising competence, clincal actions, records, fairness & respect, honestly, professional behaviours, confidentiality
• Fitness to train/Fitness to practice: erasure, fine, suspsension, case thrown out

Question 2

What does the GOC do?

Answer 2

• UK regulator for optical professions with statutory responsibility for setting standards
• Polices Opticains Act - what’s part of ST : H&S, Rx external & internal exam of eye
• Fitness to practice, CPD
• Consent
  3 main strategic objectives: delevering world-class regulatory practice, transforming customer service, building culture of continuous improvement
  Values: act w/ integrity, pursure excellence, respect other people & ideas, show empathy, behave fairly, agile & responsive to changeW

Question 3

What does Optometry Scotland?

Answer 3

Voice of optical profession in Scotland
Objective: preserve integrity of GOS -> lobby with government to increase fees

Question 4

What does College of Optoms do?

Answer 4

Runs scheme for registration
IP
Further qualifications
Promotes profession to public

Question 5

What does AOP do?

Answer 5

Provide indemnity cover
Legal guidance

Question 6

What does Opticians Act (1989) do?

Answer 6

• Ammendments made in 1995 & 2005
• Defined role for GOC as regulatory body which sets standards of practice
• Set out what optom should do if see person w/ eye disease or injury
• Protected titles - Optom & DO -> Registration & training of opticians
• Regulates Scheme for Registration - why have to do all the exams
• Regulates profession
• Fitness to practice
• Proceedings & Appeals
• Restriction on testing of sight, fitting of CLs, sale & supply of optical appliaces & use of titles & descriptions
• Supply Rx or statement (stating no Rx req) at end for any required optical appliances

Question 7

What are all the General Ophthalmic Services (GOS) vouchers?

Answer 7

GOS 1: ordinary UK resident due ST
Supp- within recall period & not due primary w/ problems or extra tests required - 2.0 codes and 4.0 codes
GOS 2: Rx form
GOS 3: Optical voucher eligibility
Children < 16, <19 in FT education, complex lens voucher (>10D), income support, income based jobseeker’s allownce, income related employment & support allowance, pension credit guarantee credit, tax credits, universal credit, low income certificate holder (HC2 or HC3)
GOS 4: repair form

Question 8

Describe Medicines Act (UK) 1968?

Answer 8

• General Sales List (GSL): purchases without Rx. Sold at supermarkets provided lockable and meds are pre-packed. No requirement for pharmacist to supervise sale of these products - low risk of having severe side effects.
• Pharmacy (P med): available from pharmacy without Rx. Sold or supplied at registered pharmacy premises or under supervision of pharmacist.
• Prescription Only (POM): available from pharmacy with Rx from doctor/ dentist. Sold &/or supplied to px with Rx from appropriate prescribing practitioner (doctor, dentist or other independent or supplementary prescriber). Restricted as want to ensure safety of public, risks associated with POMs with ADRs are increased.

Question 9

What are the exempted POMs?

Answer 9

0.5% chloramphenicol drops
1% chloramphenicol ointment
Cyclopentolate hydrochloride
Fusidic Acid
Tropicamide
POMs for admin only: amethocaine, lidocained (amide), lignocaine, oxybuprocained (ester), proxymetacaine (ester)

Question 10

Some meds chnage category depending on what for, give e.g.s?

Answer 10

Chloramphenicol - exempted POM for bac conj only
Sodium cromoglicate - CLAPC -> cannot buy over counter (POM), but can buy over counter for SAC (GSL) or PAC (P med)

Question 11

Describe the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (England & Wales)?

Answer 11

1. Assume capacity unless established they lack capacity
2. Person not to be treated as unable to make decision unless all practicable steps to help them to do have been taken without success
3. Person not to be treated as unable to make decision merely because they make an unwise decision
4. An act done, or decision made, in their best interests
5. Before act is done, or decision is made, consider whether outcome can be achieved as effectively in a way that is less restrictive of person’s rights & freedom of action

Question 12

Describe Adults w/ Incapacity (Scotland) Act 2000?

Answer 12

1. Benefit - action or decisions taken must benefit adult
2. Action or decision taken should be minimum necessary to achieve purpose. Restricts person’s freedom as little as poss.
3. Take account of wishes of the adults
4. Consultation with relevant others - nearest relative, primary carer, adult’s normal person, guardian or attorney with powers
5. Encouraging adult to exercise whatever skills have

Question 13

what is Gillick Competence?

Answer 13

If a child has capacity they may consent to medical tx at a younger age - usually no younger than 12yo.
Parent may NOT overrule this decision

Question 14

What are the conditions that must be met for consent to be given?

Answer 14

Voluntarily
By person who is suitably informed
By person who has capacity
By person themselves or someone authorised to act on px’s behalf: Power of attorney or guardianship, must have capacity when deciding who power of attorney is, guardianship when px now lacks capacity or never had capacity

Question 15

When is consent gained before?

Answer 15

Examining px
Providing tx
Involving pxs in teaching & research activities