Those in community practice, however, will
not escape the influence of these changes in
the fullness of time. As is so often the case,
the most readily available information is
derived almost exclusively from the
secondary care sector with very little from
primary care sector.
The aims of this article are to:
• explain what is meant by clinical risk
management;
• explain the background to clinical risk
management and how it has come into
existence in the NHS;
• outline how it is likely to affect
optometrists and other healthcare
professionals in general and hospital
optometrists in particular;
• suggest action plans for optometrists
to start preparing for the
implementation of clinical risk
management; and
• briefly discuss the effect this is likely
to have on everyday clinical practice.