ABDO Celebrates CLOs’ MECS Success

On the 29th August, the Association of British Dispensing Opticians (ABDO) in collaboration with WOPEC held the inaugural Objective Structured Clinical Examination in Minor Eye Condition Services (MECS) and Goldmann Applanation Tonometry for Contact Lens Opticians, at the ABDO National Resource Centre. ABDO is delighted to report that all 22 participating successfully passed.

Commenting on this success, ABDO Deputy Chief Executive Barry Duncan says, “Clearly this reflects well on the skill, dedication and professionalism of the contact lens opticians and provides all of them with an opportunity to work closely with optometrist colleagues in delivering enhanced services. It is a historic moment for the profession and further highlights the shift towards a multi-disciplinary team in a primary care setting complimenting each other’s skills and increasing the services they can offer.”

He went on to say, “ABDO would like to thank the forward thinking approach adopted by the LOCSU Board, colleagues at WOPEC for engaging extensively along with the General Optical Council, ABDO Members and various external professionals who have contributed to this project. Currently there are approximately 120 CLO’s working their way through the WOPEC modules with a view to having a further OSCE in the early part of 2019.”

CLO Max Halford, ABDO Regional Lead for the South and Devon LOC Chair was one of the successful candidates. He says, “The MECS course was the most interesting training I have ever undertaken. It formalized much of the extended eye health knowledge I had picked up over the years as a CLO and gave me an opportunity to experience an OSCE style exam. The course work was via a suite of video lectures which was great as I was able to choose when I wanted to study and it was easy to go back and recap bits that seemed tricky. Prior to the exam ABDO hosted a training day which was brilliant- it really gave us all the opportunity to practice our new skills and boosted our confidence. Hopefully a new MECS scheme launches in Plymouth in October of this year and the draft contract already includes accredited CLOs so I will be good to go!”

CLOs who are interested in taking part can find out more about the next training event at:  https://www.abdo.org.uk/events/abdo-extended-services-days/