Community pharmacies can now supply optometrist-ordered medicines as part of a new NHS service in Wales.
The Welsh government told C+D it changed the law in 2024 so community pharmacies who had already been supplying medicines ordered by optometrists could now do this as an NHS service.
The change came into effect on April 6 and it means optometrists in Wales will give patients a signed order of medicines or appliances to treat common eye conditions that will be supplied to them free of charge via community pharmacies in Wales.
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Community Pharmacy Wales said the NHS service was introduced so patients accessing the Welsh general ophthalmic service (WGOS) for “urgent eye problems” can get NHS treatment.
This includes accessing prescription-only medicines (POMs) without needing a GP prescription or needing a consultation through the common ailment service at the pharmacy.
New NHS WP10 (SO) signed order forms will be used and CPW noted they are “not a prescription” nor “interchangeable with a WP10 prescription issued by an independent prescribing optometrist”.
It added that pharmacies will not lead on whether a repeat prescription is needed, as the optometrist will write to a GP if one is needed.
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Pharmacies will be reimbursed medicines costs and receive a fee for supplying any medicines from the optometrist signed order.
Community Pharmacy Wales shared the list of medicines that can be used in the service, which will also be published in part XVIID of the drug tariff.
A Welsh government spokesperson told C+D that Wales is “the first nation in the UK” to have optometrist-ordered medicines become “an essential service provided by all pharmacies”.
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It added that the new WGOS “reflect how primary care healthcare services are evolving” and it “benefits the patient and the NHS”.
Community Pharmacy England (CPE) said an NHS service similar to the WGOS is not happening at a national level, but there were seven locally commissioned services happening across England.
It comes after CPW’s discussions with Welsh health boards found “increasing concern” around prescription claims being submitted before patients had their medication.
