My optical dispensing digest

It’s been a bit of a rollercoaster of months recently, with visits to Essilor for an open day, the NOC (National Optical Conference) and my recent trip to the ‘city of dreams’ in the most beautiful setting: A Grade II listed building in Chandos Street.

After what feels like the busiest December ever, and the excitement of Christmas gone, after attending the ABDO consultation day, I can now look forward to the exciting New Year. ABDO (Association of British Dispensing Opticians) are about to embark on a journey with the new National Clinical Committee and the new structure of regional and sub-regional leads.

In case you haven’t heard, from 1st January 2017 ABDO has appointed the inaugural members of its newly formed National Clinical Committee (NCC). With ABDO vice president, Clive Marchant, acting as chair, the new NCC members are: Nick Black, Mark Chatham, Scott Mackie, Daryl Newsome, Rupesh Patel and Alexandra Webster.

ABDO head of policy and development, Barry Duncan, will act as secretary, with ABDO director of professional examinations, Alicia Thompson, also serving on the committee.

It is also going to divide into the following:

1. Scotland – Regional Lead is Brenda Rennie, supported by Sub-Regional lead Graeme Stevenson FBDO CL.
2. Wales – Regional Lead is Kevin Milson, supported by Sub-Regional leads Sarah Aspinall FBDO.
3. Northern Ireland – Regional Lead is Geri Dynan, supported by Sub-Regional lead Deidre McAree FBDO.
4. North of England – Regional Lead is Richard Rawlinson supported by East Patel FBDO, Jill Umpleby FBDO, Lorraine Wallbank FBDO and Kimberley O’Donnell FBDO.
5. Midlands (including the East) – Regional Lead is Richard Rawlinson and he is supported by Sub-Regional leads Saima Begum FBDO, Lesley Parkinson FBDO CL, Ian Sexton FBDO CL and Simone Mason BSc(Hons)FBDO(Hons) SLD.
6. London – Regional Lead is Abi Page, Sub-Regional lead tbc.
7. South- Regional Lead is Max Halford,supported by Sub-Regional leads  Chris Bick FBDO and Jo Holmes FBDO.

Dispensing Optics has focused on the NCC in the October issue, the Regional leads were detailed in the November issue and guess who’s in the December issue – me! and my fellow sub-regional leads. Order your copy now!! LOL! Current issue and past issues available on http://www.abdo.org.uk/dispensing-optics/dispensingoptics/

These roles were created so we can look after and focus on the interests of Dispensing Opticians (DO) in what is going to be an intense period of change in our professional body as well as our Industry.

As a DO involved in the provision of extended primary care services (we were told at the NOC (National Optical Conference) this is the NEW terminology now rather than ‘enhanced services’), I see myself encouraging more DO’s to become involved in joining their local LOC’s (Local Optical Committee’s) and getting involved with primary eyecare services.

I have digressed from the day a bit, but I was so pleased to be able to attend my first and last  in the current format of the president’s consultation day. 25 years a member and I have to say – I’ve never really paid any attention to it before, even though it’s open to all members to attend! Whoops! So – what’s it all about? Well, a day when as a member of ABDO, you can listen to what’s happened in the past 12 months, but more importantly what the future holds. We know there is going to be a big change in structure and ABDO now recognise that the members are their most important asset, and intend to help them to get the word out about our fab we are!!

The day started with Fiona Anderson, the President of ABDO,  pictured here with vice president Clive Marchant,  welcoming us all. She explained that this would be the last meeting in it’s current format, but that it was ‘work in progress’ as regards the future format. She talked about the ‘Foresight Report’ and said “it was worth a read” and that our industry is “moving at a pace like we’ve never seen before.” She reassuringly told those present that “ABDO were ahead of the game.” She filled us in on her busy schedule, and made us laugh when she told us – her staff see her more in the optical press than in her own practice!” She concluded, it was ‘of course’ a huge honour to be the president of ABDO and she would absolutely recommend it. Clive wasn’t in the room at this point (phew!).

Fiona used the famous quote from  John F. Kennedy  “Change is the law of life. And those who look only to the past or present are certain to miss the future.”

Barry Duncan, headed the bill next, and spoke about the aspirations and hopes he has for DO’s, as well as the challenges. He is set to work on encouraging DO’s to join their local LOC’s, work together with Optometrists and make sure our colleagues recognise our skill set. He talked about the endless opportunities, exciting but challenging times ahead for Dispensing Opticians. “An opportunity awaits for us to upskill and play a vital role in the provision of community services in the forseeable future.”

If you want to get involved in any way, please ping Barry Duncan an email bduncan@abdo.org.uk.

I recently went to a CET evening which was on ‘MECS (Minor eye conditions services) – in particular dry eye and allergic conjunctivitis’ – perfect for a DO, but I was unable to claim a CET point. This is one area, where we need to make changes and get equality for DO’s. ( I think anyway!)

We had a great talk then from Antonia Chitty, who is in charge of the social media for ABDO, and she encouraged us to start tweeting about the day and take photo’s. Phew! I was sitting there – phone away, desperate to know if I could mention the day! Needless to say, the tweets began @dispense_digest. Antonia said since March 2014 the reach to the public was 7,297,781, sooooo keeeep sharrrring….

Over the year – she has worked on radio days, eyecare faq, friday funnies, twitter, facebook, instagram and more recently pintrest. Antonia pointed out that different media reach different age groups.

Paula Stevens followed with the CET (Continuing Education and Training) news. She mentioned only 10% of the membership had done the child safeguarding online course, and I’m pleased to say I am one of them, and it’s well worth doing, especially if you need a CET point!

In 2017, look out for a half-day course called ‘Making the most of your vision’ which sounds like a great CET course with a focus on low-vision in practice.

The biggest change for the ABDO CET department is that they are working on smaller CET events in more local areas. The thinking behind this is smaller events:

• are closer to home
• delegates learn better
• discussions are better in smaller groups
• it’s a chance to involve more members in CET provision.

If you would like to hold a CET event either in your practice, or group of practices, or at your LOC, you can contact the ABDO CET department by emailing abdocet@abdo.org.uk

The fabulous ‘Katie Docker’ was next to the stand telling us all about her role in the Membership Department. At the time of the meeting there was a membership of 8961!

As well as subscriptions, looking after new members, Direct Debits, professional & personal queries, problems, point of contact for many issues, mailshots, maintaining the database, statistics, data protection compliance as well as training, it certainly makes you realise how hard she works and more importantly, how knowledgeable she is. A huge round of applause for Katie and her team.

What a wonderful time to be a newly qualified DO, with this exciting future ahead of them. To be working in a primary care setting and have a huge role to play in the delivery of clinical advice to patients, and Elaine Grisdale spoke to us about a revision course for 3rd Year students. abdo-2017-student-revision-event-flyer

Finally, representatives from the current 13 areas of ABDO, gave a summary of their year and the CET they had offered. It had certainly been a busy and successful year for all the areas. SO, huge thanks went out for all their hard work and efforts, and long may it continue with the new regional leads. 

In summary, the day was informative and a great chance to meet the ABDO team, who work tirelessly to promote our profession. Together with the the new dedicated teams of DO’s we will support, guide  and encourage our new and existing members to join in and have a voice to carry on  promoting our skills and have a bigger involvement within their local area.