Advice & Guidelines (Issued 22-12-2008)

Updated: March and July 2010

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Introduction

1. The Advice and Guidelines which follow, although not exclusive, are issued in pursuance of the Association of British Dispensing Opticians’ (ABDO) objectives in maintaining for the public benefit the highest standards of professional competence and conduct. With changing circumstances the Association expects its attention will be drawn to new forms of practice or duties which might require fresh or amended advice to the profession.

2. This Advice and Guidelines replaces that issued in 2003. It also supercedes any previous electronic guidance.

3. The profession of dispensing opticians was created in 1925 and was given statutory registered professional status in 1958.

4. The profession is regulated partly by legal provisions and partly by advice issued by ABDO.

[References] [Legal Provisions]

HOW TO ACCESS THE ADVICE AND GUIDELINES
Immediate access to a specific area of the advice and guidelines is available via direct links between each heading in the contents index and the relevant information in the associated section. The documents can also be viewed in full, or as downloadable PDFs.


SECTION 1: PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT
General (updated 16/03/2010)
Registration and Enrolment
Vetting and Barring Scheme (added 23/12/2009) (updated 19/08/10)
Continuing Education and Professional Development
Indemnity Insurance
Working with the unregistered
Supervision of Trainees (updated 22/03/2010)
Duty to Refer
Clinical Support - Use of Drugs (also see Section 5) (updated 16/03 24/07/10)
Domiciliary Visits (updated 16/03/2010)
Professional Publicity
Media Relations
Consumer Complaints
The Fitness to Practise Jurisdiction of the GOC – see Appendix A
The Association's Powers

SECTION 2: OPHTHALMIC DISPENSING

SALE AND SUPPLY OF SPECTACLES

Guideline
Advice (updated 22/03/2010)
Supervision of Dispensing (updated 22/03/2010)
Remote dispensing
Ready made reading spectacles
Regulation and standards
Spectacle prescriptions
Particulars to be included in a prescription or statement(updated 16/03/2010)
Issue of Duplicate or Copy Prescriptions
Dispensing Equipment
Safety Spectacles (added 16/03/2010)
Sports Eyewear
Supplementary Dispensing Services
'In-House' glazing
Patient's Records – also see Section 5

LOW VISION PRACTICE

General
Low Vision Records
Low Vision Assessment
Aftercare
Legal aspects of Low Vision supply
Assessment routine

SECTION 3: CONTACT LENS PRACTICE

FITTING POWERED CONTACT LENSES

Guidelines
Advice
Advice to patients prior to fitting (updated 16/03/2010)
Preliminary Assessment
Fitting powered contact lenses (updated 24/07/2010)
Referral to a colleague (updated 16 & 22/03/2010)
Contact lens specification
Supervision (updated 22/03/2010)
Records
Information on legal matters
Contact lens equipment and facilities

SUPPLYING POWERED CONTACT LENSES

Guidelines
Advice
Supervision
General Direction
Duty to provide aftercare

ZERO POWERED CONTACT LENSES – FITTING AND SUPPLY

Guidelines
Advice

SECTION 4: INFECTION CONTROL
Introduction
Infection and cross-infection
Contagious Diseases
Principles of Infection control
Contact Lenses and Ophthalmic Devices
Safe disposal of waste
Bibliography

SECTION 5: PRACTICE MANAGEMENT
Professional Discipline (updated 22/03/2010)
Use and supply of pupil dilating drugs (updated 16/03/2010 & 27/07/2010)
Practice policies and government regulations
Occupational visual standards – see Appendix F1
Patient's Records (also see Section 2)
Electronic Records
Ownership of Records
Disposal of a Practice (updated 22/03/2010)
Existing Employees
Recruitment of New Staff
Work experience students
Criminal Records' Disclosure
Criminal Offences
Counter Fraud Charter

APPENDICES

APPENDIX A
[1] GOC Codes of Conduct (Updated 16/03/2010)
[2] GOC Fitness to Practise procedure

APPENDIX B
[1] Contact Lens Records
[2] Contact Lens Specification

APPENDIX C
Suggested Low Vision Basic Stock

APPENDIX D
Advice to ABDO Members concerning Refractive Surgery

APPENDIX E
[1] Disability Discrimination Act 1995
[2] Mental Capacity Act 2005
[3] Model Chaperone Framework for Optometry and Opticians
[4] Guidance on sexual boundaries [CHRE]

APPENDIX F
[1] Occupational Visual Standards
[2] British/CEN/ISO Standards
[3] Medical Devices Directive

APPENDIX G
Useful websites

The following documents are in PDF format and can be:


 Section 1 Professional Conduct
 Section 2 Ophthalmic Dispensing
 Section 3 Contact Lens Practice
 Section 4 Infection Control
 Section 4 World Health Organisation - Pictorial Advice on Hand Washing
 Section 5 Practice Management
 Appendix A [1] GOC Codes of Conduct
 Appendix A [2] GOC Fitness to Practise procedure
 Appendix B [1] Contact Lens Records
 Appendix B [2] Contact Lens Specification
 Appendix B [2] Contact Lens Specification sample form for personalisation
 Appendix C Suggested Low Vision Basic Stock
 Appendix D Advice to ABDO Members concerning Refractive Surgery
 Appendix E [1] Disability Discrimination Act 1995
 Appendix E [2] Mental Capacity Act 2005
 Appendix E [3] Model Chaperone Framework for Optometry and Opticians
 Appendix E [3] Model Chaperone: Sample form for personalisation
 Appendix E [4] CHRE Guidance on Sexual Boundaries
 Appendix F [1] Occupational Visual Standards
 Appendix F [2] British/CEN/ISO Standards
 Appendix F [3] Medical Devices Directive
 Appendix G - Useful websites

Advice and Guidelines Archive (post 22-12-2008)
Advice and Guidelines Archive (pre 22-12-2008)
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