Ophthalmic medical assistants: response
- Ophthalmologist, Academic Unit of Ophthalmology, Imperial College School of Medicine, Western Eye Hospital, London NW1 5YE
- Nurse manager, Mayday University Hospital NHS Trust, Croydon
- Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Trust, London
- Ophthalmologist, Academic Unit of Ophthalmology, Imperial College School of Medicine, Western Eye Hospital, London NW1 5YE
- Nurse manager, Mayday University Hospital NHS Trust, Croydon
- Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Trust, London
- CHRIS TIMMS, Senior orthoptist
- Ophthalmologist, Academic Unit of Ophthalmology, Imperial College School of Medicine, Western Eye Hospital, London NW1 5YE
- Nurse manager, Mayday University Hospital NHS Trust, Croydon
- Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Trust, London
- Alistair Fielder.
The commentary on ophthalmic medical assistants (OMAs) by Webber and Jeffrey1 opens up an important topic. We recall a suggestion made a few years ago to create a new technical post to replace many of the duties normally undertaken by nurses and orthoptists. This generated much discussion but the issue eventually subsided leaving the status quo. The health service climate is now very different so this new proposal for the widespread introduction of OMAs needs to be given every consideration.
The job description of the OMA includes “cataract preoperative counselling, clerking, biometry measurements, compilation of operating lists, postoperative examinations, and even discharge from the clinic . . .(and) can include all other aspects of ophthalmology.” This is an impressive range of tasks especially for one with such a basic level of training, and certainly both trivialises and seriously underestimates the depth and breath of ophthalmic care patients deserve to receive. With the OMA on board one wonders what is left for anyone else to do? It also begs the question of whether ophthalmologists are merely surgical technicians and do not need to be medically qualified? The authors …
