ABDO in the regions: Wales

It’s important to keep your skills honed

Here in Wales, as in many areas, finding and retaining staff can be a real challenge – particularly in less populated areas.

The density of the population in Wales as a whole is 150 people per square kilometre; in North Wales this falls to 113.6, and in Mid Wales to just 26 people per square kilometre. This area also has an ageing population, with 28 per cent of the population over the age of 65, experiencing all the challenges that can come with ageing eyes. Three practices in the area have closed in recent years due to staffing difficulties, meaning that patients often need to travel long distances to access eyecare.

In order to address this difficulty, Powys Teaching Health Board recently launched an innovative scheme through its Primary Care Academy offering three funded places on the ABDO optical assistant (OA) course, which will hopefully lead on to the dispensing diploma course.

Starting people out on the OA course makes perfect sense. No formal qualifications are required, and there are no exams to sit. This makes it accessible to those who struggled at school, while the requirement to submit weekly assessments teaches the discipline required to complete higher qualifications. Shorter than the diploma course, and less expensive for employers, the OA course provides a taste of what optics is all about. Those who successfully complete it can go straight on to do the dispensing diploma with no GCSE requirement, and ABDO College reports that many who complete the OA course do just that.

In addition to this local initiative, Optometry Wales and ABDO are engaged in exploratory conversations with various Welsh government bodies regarding the possibility of introducing a dispensing optician (DO) apprenticeship here. I believe we are in a strong position, due to the increasing demands on the optical profession, the availability of apprenticeships in other healthcare professions, and of course the availability of the apprenticeship in England. It is likely to be some time before this comes to fruition but, in the interim, if the Powys scheme is successful, it is hoped other health boards will offer funding for OA training.

OA or DO: what’s the difference?

While making use of the OA course is a good start, it’s important to distinguish between an OA and a DO, as the lines between them have become somewhat blurred – with the general public perhaps not aware there is a difference.

As a DO, I have always found it difficult to describe what I do succinctly, as the job encompasses a wide range of skills. At its simplest, I would say that a DO helps people choose the most suitable spectacles for Know your worth REGIONAL UPDATE their prescription, lifestyle and appearance. But I have worked in practices with experienced OAs who can also do that; so what sets a DO apart?

In a nutshell, I would say that because of our advanced training, we understand the science behind what we do. However, it’s no good just us knowing the difference, we also need to demonstrate that difference so that other people know. What do you bring to your practice that an OA can’t? How do you demonstrate your worth? Do you talk to your patients about what you are doing during interactions, and why you are doing it? Do you explain the importance of choosing a frame that fits correctly, help them find the perfect one, and discuss suitable lens options that they may not have thought of?

Ordering spectacles online is becoming more popular, but perhaps by taking more time to explain that they are more than just a fashion accessory, and why the fit of the frame also impacts our vision, we can retain more happy patients.

Whilst I understand that many DOs are happy to focus on dispensing, it’s important to keep your skills honed. Why not become an expert on occupational dispensing? Perhaps you don’t see too many airline pilots, but what about plumbers, electricians and other tradespeople who may have specific requirements? Read up on sports eyewear, safety eyewear or tints so you know which ones will provide the best option for your patient.

There are also other areas where you can add value to your role without studying for additional qualifications, such as discussing magnifiers and other solutions with low vision patients – and signposting them to organisations which can help improve their quality of life. How about researching the many dry eye products that are available so you can discuss these with patients? This can have a huge impact on your patients and will become more needed in future with the rise in dry eye disease.

And, of course, it is possible to pursue further qualifications. If dispensing is what you love, you might consider the paediatric dispensing course to broaden your scope, or you could take a sidestep and do the contact lens diploma, followed by the extended services course if you fancy something more clinical.

But whatever you choose to do, enjoy it, know your worth, and make sure everyone else knows it too. Make every patient interaction count, and make sure they leave your practice feeling and looking great, as well as seeing perfectly.

Abi Crutcher FBDO CL Prof. Cert. LV is ABDO’s regional lead in Wales. Email acrutcher@abdo.org.uk