PART 4Ophthalmic Performers List

CHAPTER 3Ophthalmic Medical Practitioners

Qualifications of ophthalmic medical practitioners42

1

The prescribed qualifications and experience which a medical practitioner is to possess to be recognised as an ophthalmic medical practitioner are that the medical practitioner (at the date of consideration of that person’s application under regulations 4 and 39)—

a

has recent and adequate experience;

b

has held—

i

an appointment in the health service, otherwise than under Part 4 of the National Health Service Act 194667, Part 2 of the National Health Service Act 197768 or Part IV of the 2006 Act, with the status of consultant ophthalmologist, or

ii

an appointment for a period of not less than 2 years of equivalent status as ophthalmic surgeon or assistant ophthalmic surgeon on the staff of an approved ophthalmic hospital; or

c

has—

i

obtained the Membership of the Royal College of Ophthalmologists, or any approved higher degree or qualification, and

ii

held one or more ophthalmic appointments in an approved ophthalmic hospital for a period totalling not less than 2 years, which must include tenure for a period totalling not less than 6 months of a residential appointment or an appointment with duties comparable with those of a residential appointment: this is subject to paragraph (3).

2

In this regulation “approved” means approved by the Committee or by the appeal committee on appeal from the Committee under regulation 43 or 44.

3

The tenure for 6 months of a residential or comparable appointment referred to in paragraph (1)(c)(ii) is not required in the case of a medical practitioner who has been fully registered for at least 7 years.