HEIW Optometry expands Peer Review Support Forum for newly qualified Independent Prescribing Optometrists

Published 24/07/2025

Health Education and Improvement Wales (HEIW) Optometry has officially launched Cohorts 8 and 9 of its Peer Review Support Forum, aimed at newly qualified Independent Prescribing (IP) Optometrists. This marks another significant step in aligning primary care optometry services with the vision outlined in A Healthier Wales and The Future Approach for Optometry Services.

The Peer Review Support Forum is designed to empower IP-qualified practitioners by fostering peer-to-peer learning and case-based discussions in a supportive and collaborative environment. The forum plays a critical role in enabling patients to receive timely and effective eye care closer to home, thereby easing pressure on hospital eye clinics.

“The growth in interest has been incredible, we now run two cohorts concurrently and are already planning for Cohort 10 and beyond” said Justine Davies, HEIW lead on the support forum.

“I've loved teaching in the support forum, I think I learn as much as anyone else. It's very easy to feel isolated as a practitioner, especially as a new IP and I've found the forum to be a great way to build a network where practitioners can go for help and advice” said Chris Evans, Independent Prescribing Optometry Facilitator.

The Independent Prescribing qualification enables optometrists to treat and manage a broader range of eye conditions directly in primary care. This development is a key element in the ongoing optometry contract reform, aimed at reducing the need for secondary care referrals and improving patient access to essential services in local communities.

Feedback from the forum has been overwhelmingly positive. Participants have consistently reported increased confidence in their prescribing abilities. One practitioner from Cohort 6 shared, “I was unsure what to expect before attending the first session, but they have been a fantastically useful resource, and I would strongly recommend any newly qualified optometrist to attend.”

HEIW Optometry encourages all newly qualified Independent Prescribers (in Wales) to take part in these valuable sessions. The next call for expressions of interest is scheduled for July 2025 with Cohort 10 and 11 commencing late September / early October.

For more information, visit: https://heiw.nhs.wales/our-work/optometry/support-for-eye-care-professionals/peer-review-support-forum/

Data from the learning

69 Newly Qualified Independent Prescribing Optometrists have commenced our IP support forum with 55 completed.

• Cohorts 5-9 have had an average attendance rate of 96% recorded.
• Session 1: 91% of respondents rated it as extremely useful.
• Sessions 2 to 5: Achieved a 100% unanimous rating of extremely useful.

Previous cohorts: Participants shared overwhelmingly positive feedback, including:

• “This course was one of the most informative and helpful CPD I have ever done.”
• “I was unsure what to expect before attending the first sessions, but they have been a fantastically useful resource, and I would strongly recommend any newly qualified to attend.”
• “The environment felt open and supportive throughout – I never felt like there was such a thing as a silly question, which made it easy to engage and learn.”
• “Thanks for facilitating an excellently run course.”