AOP seeks applications for its Hospital Optometrists Committee

The AOP is seeking applications from optometrists interested in joining its Hospital Optometrists Committee (HOC).

Elections will take place in April to fill three seats vacant on the committee, with those elected to serve a three-year term.

The AOP describes the HOC as “representing the interests of optometrists employed in hospital services and works to improve best practices and maintain high standards of post-graduate education.”

One committee member is a specialist hospital optometrist at Manchester Royal Eye Hospital, Thomas Hamper.

Providing OT with insight on what it is involved in being on the committee, Hamper explained how the HOC is able to advocate for the voice of hospital optometrist with professional groups including the AOP, the GOC and NHS bodies.

He explained how the committee also “fields queries from hospital eye service units about different matters.”

“Having a forum in which to help smaller, perhaps less connected, units is very important to ensuring the continued growth of the profession,” he said.

Hamper, who joined the HOC in 2019, told OT he initially joined because with “little knowledge of the committee and its work,” he was “intrigued to see what life was like in departments outside of Manchester.”

“As I learnt more from the committee members at the time, I felt it would be an honour to be part of something bigger, and to be able to give a little back to the wider profession,” he added.

He shared that over the past few years a highlight on committee has been, “getting to know colleagues from across the country,” as well as working with the Micro- and Anophthalmic Children’s Society (MACS), which the committee supported and raised £600 for last year.

To be eligible to apply and stand for election, practitioners must be an AOP member, and work as a hospital optometrist (full or part-time) with a health authority, health board, or NHS trust, or hold a position as an optometrist in a similar role at alternative NHS providers.

Encouraging hospital optometrists to consider applying for the HOC, Hamper said: “If you’re looking to learn more about the wider profession, the NHS, and how you can support colleagues who are exploring new areas of practice, then this is the committee to join.”

Applications close on 11 April. Voting is open between 23 April and 7 May. The results of the election will be announced in May, with successful practitioners officially welcomed to the committee during the AOP’s annual general meeting on 4 June.

Applications can be submitted through the AOP website.

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