AOP roadshow: Optometry on the agenda – Scotland (Edinburgh)
When:
Time:
Where: DoubleTree by Hilton Edinburgh City Centre, 34 Bread Street, Edinburgh, EH3 9AF, United Kingdom
Interactive CPD points: 2
Book or join now to attend this event
The AOP is hosting a workshop for optometrists, dispensing opticians and practice owners on how we can support you to raise awareness of the vital role community optometry plays – and any challenges you see in practice which stops optometry doing more. Central to our campaigning is to keep eye health in the news and on the minds of Holyrood and health policy makers – and members across the UK have an invaluable role to play to help us achieve this.
You’ll hear about our new Five-Year Strategy, including our commitment to advocacy – why we do it, what we’ve achieved and what’s next – and learn how you as an AOP member can make a difference. From working with us to help host MSPs and MPs in your practice, to finding and sharing powerful patient stories, your voice is key to showing the value of optometry on every High Street.
Whether you’re an experienced advocate or new to campaigning, this interactive workshop will equip you with practical tools, confidence and inspiration to champion the profession and protect the nation’s sight.
Learning outcomes
- Practitioners will recognise strategies for working with key sector stakeholders to optimise outcomes for patients (s.10)
- Practitioners will evaluate ways to advocate for the profession and raise the profile and safety of community eye care within national health policy (s.12).
6.30PM - 8.15PM
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2 points
AOP roadshow: Optometry on the agenda – Scotland
CPD ref no: C-116440
Interactive:
Practitioner type:
Domains:
Adam Sampson
Adam Sampson has been chief executive of the Association of Optometrists (AOP) since 2021. Prior to that, he has had a varied career largely in the public and voluntary sectors. Following a period as an academic and a probation officer, he spent seven years as chief executive officer of Shelter, where he was closely involved in Government housing policy.
He was then asked to set up and run the first legal ombudsman service, before leaving his role as chief ombudsman to set up his own consultancy business. He maintains an associate role at the University of Oxford Centre for Socio-Legal Studies.
John White
John is director of communications and external affairs at the Association of Optometrists (AOP). He is a senior communications and corporate affairs leader with extensive experience shaping strategic narratives, influencing health policy.
At the AOP, John has overseen an external affairs programme that has strengthened engagement with parliamentarians and policymakers, and he has led targeted PR campaigns securing coverage on the BBC, ITV and national newspapers, helping to shape debate on sector‑critical issues.
He also oversees the AOP’s integrated marketing and content programmes across digital, print and social media channels. John was previously editor of the AOP’s award‑winning journal, Optometry Today, and earlier in his career worked as an editor covering biotech and pharma.