Voting opens for Hospital Optometrists Committee elections

The AOP has invited eligible members to cast their votes in the Hospital Optometrists Committee (HOC) elections.

The HOC represents optometrists working in hospital settings, advocating for their interests, proactively developing good practice, and promoting high standards of post-graduate education in hospital optometry.

Elections have opened for three vacant seats in the HOC, with 10 candidates standing.

Adam Sampson, chief executive of the AOP, said: “This election provides an important opportunity to make sure that the views and priorities of our members working in hospital optometry are strongly represented. I encourage all eligible members to participate in this crucial process by casting your votes, which will shape the Committee’s efforts to drive innovation, collaboration, and progress in hospital optometry.”

To be eligible to vote, members must:

• Be a current AOP member with a paid subscription and:
• Hold a full-time or part-time hospital optometrist position with a health authority, health board, or NHS trust
• Be an optometrist in a similar role at alternative NHS providers.

Voting opens on 23 April and closes 7 May, with results to be announced shortly after.

Elected members will serve a three-year term, beginning at the AOP annual general meeting in June 2025.

The 10 candidates standing for the HOC are:

• Deirdre Burns, Belfast Health and Social Care Trust
• Matthew Chan, Bristol Eye Hospital, University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust
• Michelle Claire Corrin, Alder Hey Children’s NHS FT and Countess of Chester NHS FT
• Inderpal Ghuman, Moorfields Eye Hospital, NHS Foundation Trust
• Elizabeth Hunt, Aneurin Bevan University Health Board
• Andrew Sivaprakash Asirwatham Knight, Great Western Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
• Nisha Mehta, SpaMedica
• Amandeep Rai, Queen Elizabeth Hospital
• Jeenal Shah, Newmedica Bristol
• Alison Weston, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust.

More information on the HOC elections, along with the election statements for all candidates, can be found on the AOP website.