GCU welcomes Scottish ministers for launch of new programme

Glasgow Caledonian University (GCU) has marked the launch of the UK’s first integrated optometry and independent prescribing MOptom (IP) qualification with a visit from Scottish Government ministers.

The minister for higher education, Graeme Dey, and public health minister, Jenni Minto, received a tour of the department and the vision centre to learn more about GCU’s new five-year course.

In addition to meeting university staff, and students from the first cohort of the new degree, the ministers were shown the department’s simulation teaching equipment, teaching labs, and imaging suite.

The new Master’s programme, which launched this autumn, is the culmination of years of collaboration and planning with NHS Education for Scotland (NES) and the Scottish Government.

GCU noted that the course is aligned with the Scottish Government’s policy to provide increased community-based eye care and additional non-medical workforce within hospital eye services.

NES will provide support for students throughout their placement periods during the course.

Dey commented: “It’s exciting to see Scotland is ahead of the game when it comes to upskilling our optometry workforce and this new course will ensure they will have the right skills, knowledge and experience to meet future challenges.”

“Graduates of this groundbreaking course will play an important role in establishing a wider range of community-based ophthalmic care,” he continued, adding: “Patients will be able to be treated closer to home, helping to reduce the pressures on GPs and hospital waiting lists.”

Graduates of this groundbreaking course will play an important role in establishing a wider range of community-based ophthalmic care

The government ministers were welcomed to GCU by principal and vice-chancellor, Professor Steve Decent, principal, Dean of the school of health and life sciences, Professor Anita Simmers, and head of the department of vision sciences, Professor Gunter Loffler.

Simmers suggested the new course benefits from the university’s “longstanding” experience in eye care education and partnership with NES.

Discussing the new programme, she said: “It will provide an outstanding student experience and equip graduates with the skills that will allow them to provide the best possible eye care to patients across all communities in Scotland.”

Loffler added: “We see this new integrated qualification as an opportunity to equip graduates with the skills that will allow them to provide advanced eye care to the benefit of patients in communities across Scotland.”

We see this new integrated qualification as an opportunity to equip graduates with the skills that will allow them to provide advanced eye care to the benefit of patients in communities across Scotland

Image (left to right): Minister for higher education, Graeme Dey, GCU school of health and life sciences’ Dean, Professor Anita Simmers, principal and vice-chancellor, Professor Steve Decent, head of the department of vision sciences, Professor Gunter Loffler, new MOptom (IP) first year students, Arfah Ahmad, Farah Ahmed, and Neve Whelan, and public health minister Jenni Minto, in the university’s vision centre.