“It is important to devote time to personal development”

I was also a spectacles wearer, so I visited our family optometrist from an early age, probably every six months.

I don’t like blood and gore, so I realised that other medical professions, such as dentistry, were not for me. My eyesight wasn’t good enough to be a helicopter pilot either, so I needed another option. The strong link between science and healthcare and being able to help people was a draw into optometry. 

I studied at Aston University from 1989, and have many long-standing memories both in terms of learning and social life.

The transition from rural life growing up into city life was a culture shock, but a very positive student experience. The annual sporting competitions between the optometry departments were always something to look forward to – most of the departments entered a team.

Highlights from university included the ophthalmic optics course, with the transition from theoretical learning to the practical application of skills learnt, and seeing patients in the clinics. My early patient clinics at Aston highlighted the importance of listening and understanding patient needs, and this has continued throughout my career. The importance of listening and learning plays an important role in all aspects of professional life.

The early patient clinics at Aston highlighted the importance of listening and understanding patient needs, and this has continued throughout my career

I completed my pre-reg year at Essex County Hospital in Colchester, qualifying in 1992.

The support of a team with a wide range of experience was very valuable at such an important time in my career, and having a handover period with the predecessors was excellent.

Being able to support a broad spectrum of patients with a wide range of eye conditions was an excellent experience. Supporting patients with significant sight and associated daily living challenges was particularly rewarding.

Shortly before qualifying an opportunity arose to work in an independent practice.

This led to my first job, working in a long-standing independent practice. It was certainly daunting, the transition from the close-knit support from the hospital department environment to taking full responsibility as a General Optical Council registrant in my own right.

Access to different products, including fitting a Diffrax contact lens on my first day in practice, was eye opening.

This was a good grounding to understanding community optometry. Seeing generations of patients, who had been with the practice for many years, ensured great continuity of care and supported the drive in growth of contact lens wear.

Confidence in their eye care provider is key to being able to support patients’ health and wellbeing. Being a trusted recommendation, passed down by generations of families – it is important to be an active part of that. If you take accurate notes, you can remember when someone’s holiday was, or the name of a family pet. Building that relationship means rapport and trust, which is key in whatever optometry setting.

If you take accurate notes, you can remember when someone’s holiday was, or the name of a family pet. Building that relationship means rapport and trust

My next role was a resident optometrist role at Leightons Opticians, where I covered several practices across the south coast.

This once again provided an opportunity to work with and learn from a great group of colleagues.

That was followed by several years in an area support role with a multiple. It was a senior optometrist role, and involved supporting the development of optometrists particularly to fulfill their roles both clinically and in terms of audit and governance, helping to support the growth of the business.

After this I returned to Leightons Opticians and Hearing Care in a professional services role.

In time, I became professional services manager and more recently professional services director. Within this role I have led the roll out of technology across the Leightons Group, including retinal cameras, optical coherence tomography (OCT), Optomap, and more recently anterior eye imaging.

Alongside developing our talented team of eye care professionals and developing new services, this role has enabled me to gain broader experience, being appointed to a number of optometry sector committees.

I have also played an active role in our hearing care businesses, and have gained valuable insight into the connected benefit of optometry and audiology, on a clinical and patient care basis as well as through the commercial benefits of this powerful combination.

Separately to this, in 2017 I was elected as the AOP Councillor for the south east of England.

It is vital to be open to learning daily, both to ensure your clinical knowledge and skills are up to date to meet and exceed the needs of patient care, and to ensure that the business you are employed within thrives.

This ensures innovative care pathways can be initiated efficiently and effectively. It is important to devote time to personal development, not only aiding wellbeing, but to support you and your business growth and mindset.

I have had the benefit of being enrolled in several business management training courses, covering a broad range of subjects that are not part of the optometry pathway. I have completed the professional certificate in medical retina, and regularly attend a range of optometry conferences to ensure my professional knowledge is both up to date and relevant.

Further integrating our audiology services into optometric practices is also key to supporting patients being able to live their lives as healthily and fully as possible

My next ambition is to support the extension of patient care and introduce innovative care pathways across the Leightons group.

This will support patients at their time of need with expert care easily, which is accessible within their local community and from an eye care provider they’ve trusted for many years.

We have supported several of our colleagues through the independent prescribing pathway. This is something I would like to expand, alongside glaucoma care, combining this learning with the opportunity to complete the clinical-care-commercial triangle in the advancement of the services we offer in practice.

Further integrating our audiology services into optometric practices is also key to supporting patients being able to live their lives as healthily and fully as possible.