A peek inside... Willetts & Doig Optometrists

What is your role?

I was an optometrist in Nigeria for 15 years and am now re-qualifying with the General Optical Council (GOC) to get my full practising licence in the UK. This means interviewing with the GOC, getting a temporary licence and taking a pre-registration optometrist position. After a series of assessments, you can be fully qualified as an optometrist in the UK. 

What do you recall from your first week in practice?

I was nervous because I had moved to a new country and different practice setting. I knew that in providing eye care, I would be fine, but I would need to learn the way things are done and communicated in the UK, as well as the practice computer system. 

The team were super helpful. They understood I was nervous and that I would need time ease into the practice and take everything in. It was an orientation period, taking me through the running of the practice. The team have been supportive in every aspect, not just with the practice and administration, but on the home front in helping me and my family to settle in. 

How do you see your role in the patient’s journey?

Now that I’ve eased into the practice, I’m seeing patients with sign-off from my supervisor. I want to make the patient’s journey as smooth as possible. You see patients with real concerns and eye issues that could change their lifestyles. When I see a patient, I integrate all of that understanding in my approach. You have to show empathy. My patient journey is holistic. It’s not only about eye care – it is about making the patient comfortable and confident in you as the practitioner. 

What do you love most about your practice?

When I wake up in the morning and remember I have work, I am happy. It is a joy to be here. The team is a support group, so I don’t stand alone. I didn't know what to expect when I moved here, but I have so much joy working with the team. 

What is your favourite moment of the day?

Solving patient’s problems and receiving compliments or positive reviews. When a patient comes in with an issue and I am able to explain it to them, get them referred, or just talk with them about it, I can see them relax. They may be anxious when they arrive, but by the time they leave, they are more relaxed because they know what the issue is, and that there is a solution. 

When I wake up in the morning and remember I have work, I am happy. It is a joy to be here

What is one thing you have learnt from someone in your team?

I have one colleague who will know if you are having a bad day just by looking at you and will ask: ‘Is everything alright? Do you need anything? Do you want to talk?’ She will give you a hug and it makes things easier to bear. I wonder how she does it, because I always thought I had a poker face. It’s not just about running the practice, it’s about them wanting to know that we are all emotionally and mentally well as individuals. 

If you could help your community understand one thing about eye care, what would you say? 

I would want them to understand that children can have eye problems too. The UK is great at making sure children’s wellbeing is assessed from a young age, but I would like to see more emphasis on eye care in children. There are children who at four or five years old have not had their first eye examination, but it is better to tackle eye conditions as early as possible and I would want the community to be more aware of this. 

I think there could also be greater awareness around visual impairment too. A lot is already being done, but I think there could be more awareness about the support available. People who become visually impaired, such as through macular degeneration, tend to struggle more. It can feel like the end of their world. Some patients don’t want to be labelled as visually impaired, but if there could be more awareness of the support they could access, then I think that could help to relieve any stigma they feel. 

What is your next goal?

I’ve always been passionate about visual impairment. Growing up in Nigeria, the stigma of being labelled as visually impaired meant that some people did not want to talk about the problems they were having. I come from an area that sees a greater number of people with ocular albinism, so there are a lot of children who could benefit from visual aids but are not being helped. I want to continue to do something with visual impairment, perhaps in low vision clinics. 

I would also be interested in studying medical retina further. I have had family members who, because of poor management of their diabetes, became blind. 

If you could have one wish for the practice, what would it be? 

We could have loads of biscuits, and for the practice to be warmer. Or have our own individual, portable heating systems. 

If you had an unofficial title in the practice, what would it be?

I threw this question to my team and about 70% of them said: The Snacker. I asked them if I really snack that much! Personally, I feel I bring a lot of energy. I think I’m their happy place.