24 October 2022
Held at the ICC in Birmingham on 16 October, over 2000 delegates attended overall, with more than 350 audiology professionals present. The event marked PAC’s return to an in-person format, its first since 2019 due to the pandemic.
Specsavers’ director of professional development, clinical services, Grant Duncan, said: “After the huge success of our online events I was curious about the level of interest in a face-to-face PAC, but people have come back in record numbers across the board - delegates for optics and audiology, exhibitors, and even WOPEC objective clinical structured examinations assessments.”
“It was lovely to see lots of smiling faces as we met up with colleagues and friends both old and new,” he added.
During the one-day conference, delegates had access to a range of CPD, delivered by speakers from the UK and overseas, covering topics including myopia management, enhanced optical services and referral quality, and infection control in domiciliary services.
A session that proved popular saw Specsavers’ director of professional advancement, ophthalmic, Paul Morris, joined on stage by AOP clinical director, Dr Peter Hampson, and College of Optometrists clinical adviser, Daniel Hardiman-McCartney, to discuss clinical obligations while reflecting real data underpinning clinics from the Specsavers’ Clinical Outcome Report.
Award winners
During the event, founders of Specsavers, Doug and Dame Mary Perkins, recognised clinicians from across the UK multiple network through clinical excellence and outstanding clinical customer care awards. The accolades recognised professionals in each nation.
The Doug Perkins medal for clinical excellence in optics was given to Irinder Khakha from Specsavers Hayes, while Specsavers Haverfordwest’s Andy Britton received the award for Wales. From Scotland, Specsavers Wick’s Ian Morris was recognised, and Specsavers Magherafelt’s Michael Foster received the medal for Northern Ireland. The accolade was also awarded to Martin O’Brien of Specsavers Wexford in Ireland.
Kathryn Bye, of Specsavers’ York 1 Domiciliary business, received the medal for domiciliary clinical excellence.
The Dame Mary Perkins medal for outstanding clinical customer care was awarded to Jack Collins of Specsavers Atherstone in England and Julia Campbell of Specsavers St Andrews’ in Scotland. For Wales the accolade was awarded the Specsavers Pontypridd team, while the Specsavers Larne team were recognised in Northern Ireland, and in Ireland the Specsavers Crumlin team received the award.
Graeme McKenzie from Specsavers’ Dundee domiciliary business and Alison Edwards from Specsavers Warminster received Dame Mary Perkins medal accolades for domiciliary and audiology, respectively. Additionally, Oliver Sykes, from Specsavers Scunthorpe, received the audiology Doug Perkins medal for clinical excellence.
The awards were first established by the multiple in Australia and New Zealand, where they have been running for a number of years.
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