UK Optometrists - Is The Independent Prescribing (IP) Qualification Worth It?

It’s a question we’ve heard countless times in our profession. After seeing many colleagues put in the time and effort only to feel a bit let down by the reality of the role, it's time to have a nuanced conversation about it.

Many of us are currently on this journey—perhaps just months away from being fully IP qualified—and the perspective changes depending on where we stand and how we practice.

The "No-Brainer" Scenarios

In well-funded areas like Scotland and Wales, having an IP qualification as an employed or practice-owning optometrist is often a "no-brainer." In these regions, the clinical pathways are better integrated, allowing us to manage conditions that would otherwise be sent straight to a hospital.

Furthermore, for Hospital Eye Service (HES) optometrists, IP is frequently a requirement or a gateway to better pay grades. It allows for a higher level of autonomy and professional satisfaction that is hard to match in traditional high-street retail.

The Frustrations of Funding

However, in areas where funding hasn't caught up with clinical capability, it’s easy for optometrists to become jaded. We want to offer a higher level of care and use our hard-earned skills, but without proper remuneration, it can feel like a thankless job. We are taking on more clinical responsibility and risk, often for the same session rate.

The Locum Perspective: Future-Proofing vs. Practice

As locums, the situation is even more complex. Currently, many shared care or IP schemes are tied to specific practices rather than the individual clinician. This means that even if we are highly qualified, we might find ourselves in a "prescribing desert" depending on which store we are booked into that day.

For us, the IP qualification often feels more like future-proofing than a tool for daily practical usage. We are ready for the shift in the profession, but the infrastructure isn't quite there to support us yet.

The Verdict

We love the idea of IP. In Wales, specifically, it has helped save countless unnecessary trips to overburdened HES services, which is a massive win for the NHS and for patients.

But we feel for the optometrists who want to utilise their skills to the fullest but aren't ready to jump into the hospital sector. For now, it remains a choice between personal professional development and immediate financial ROI.

What are your thoughts? If you've gained your IP, has it changed your working life for the better, or do you feel the lack of funding has held you back?