Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to deliver (a) teaching and (b) upskilling sessions to (i) community optometrists and (ii) other non-hospital staff.

All optometrists and ophthalmic medical practitioners must be registered with their respective regulatory body and undertake continuing professional development to maintain their registration. NHS England provides the continuing education and training grant for eligible optometrists and ophthalmic medical practitioners undertaking National Health Service sight testing services.

Funding is also provided across all the devolved nations for the Directory of Continuing Education and Training platform, managed by the College of Optometrists, which provides training resources to all United Kingdom registered optometrists. Employers are also responsible for ensuring that practice staff have the training and skills required to fulfil their roles.