At VISIONCARE we work to the highest possible standards and this includes conforming to the Codes of Practice laid down by the College of Optometrists and the Domiciliary Eyecare Committee, extracts from which are given below.

Extract from the Code of Practice for Domiciliary Eyecare Committee -

Clinical

• Patients will receive a sight test in accordance with the regulations, their individual needs and the duty of care and confidentiality of the optometrist towards the patient
• Providers will utilise specialised portable equipment to enable the optometrist to deliver the best possible care to the patient consistent with the regulations.
• Where the environment or medical limitations of the patient make it impossible to include the full range of procedures, the reasons will be shown on the record card.
• Providers acknowledge that when supplying domiciliary services they are acting in a privileged position of trust. All providers will monitor and support any clinical staff with regular clinical governance reviews

Preparation

• NHS sight tests will be offered to those who cannot access community optical practices unaccompanied, as a result of mental or physical disability, as set out in the regulations.
• Eligibility for a domiciliary examination will be established and the reason noted on the record card, as will any eligibility for an optical voucher, as set out in the regulations
• The provider takes responsibility for confirming that the venue complies with the regulations and that the address is the normal place of residence of the patient
• Providers will respect the right of each patient to make their individual choice of provider for services and appliances

Continuing Care

• Spectacles dispensed will be fitted individually to patients and any tolerance problems will be addressed by suitably trained staff
• Providers commit themselves to revisiting each patient for a further eye examination as indicated at their previous examination (subject to the patient /carer’s agreement)
• Patients have a right to expect a high standard of continuing care which ensures that any follow-up care required or requested is provided efficiently and professionally
• Providers have an obligation to ensure that, when a patient opts to be cared for by another provider, relevant information (e.g. spectacle prescription and date of last sight test) is made available to that new provider with the consent of the patient or the patient’s carer. “

The full code can be seen at www.fodo.com

Extract from the College of Optometrists Code of Ethics and Guidelines for Professional Conduct

Preface
The Code of Ethics is the basis of the whole professional conduct of optometrists,
and all Fellows and Members of the College must subscribe to it:
AN OPTOMETRIST SHALL ALWAYS PLACE THE WELFARE OF THE PATIENT
BEFORE ALL OTHER CONSIDERATIONS AND SHALL BEHAVE IN A PROPER
MANNER TOWARDS PROFESSIONAL COLLEAGUES AND SHALL NOT BRING THEM OR THE PROFESSION INTO DISREPUTE.
There are ten principles which apply to any professional practice and which sum up in a concise form the optometrist’s obligations.

Principles

1. The practitioner should always have as his or her prime concern the welfare and safety of both patient and the public.
2. The practitioner should ensure that s/he is adequately covered by public and
   products liability insurance which includes professional indemnity cover.
3. The honour and dignity of the profession shall be upheld at all times and no activity shall be engaged in which might bring the profession into disrepute.
4. The practitioner shall at all times have due regard to the laws and regulations applicable and maintain a high standard of professional conduct. Acts or omissions
   which might impair confidence in the profession should be avoided.
5. Information relating to the health or welfare of any patient or person should be respected and remain confidential between practitioner and patient or person, unless disclosure is specifically permitted by such patient or person or by law.
6. The practitioner should keep abreast of the progress of scientific and other
   relevant knowledge pertinent to the profession, seek to develop his or her
   professional competence and maintain a high standard of professional expertise relative to his or her sphere of activity.
7. The practitioner should not agree to practise under any conditions of service which would prevent or impede his or her professional integrity, nor impose such conditions on other members of the profession.
8. Practitioners should co-operate with professional colleagues and members of other professions to the benefit of patients and the public.
9. No practitioner should criticise or cast doubts on the integrity of other professional colleagues except when absolute candour is required in the furnishing of evidence in legal or disciplinary proceedings, or if the practitioner considers that patients’ welfare is being placed at risk through the actions of a professional colleague.
10. No practitioner should advise, prescribe or engage in any procedure beyond his or her competence and training. Engaging in occasional practice is not in the best interests of the patient; practitioners should be aware of their limitations and refer to a more competent colleague as necessary.

The full code can be seen at www.college-optometrists.org