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NEWS IN BRIEF
In remembrance: Roger Pope Optician is sad to repor t that dispensing optician Roger Pope, holder of two Royal Warrants, passed away on April 21 in Kent.
Pope’s practice on New Cavendish Street in London opened in 1987 to meet the complex dispensing needs of private ophthalmologists and evolved into a fully ser viced luxur y practice with a team of optometrists and dispensing opticians.
Pope first received the Royal Warrant by Appointment to HM Queen Elizabeth II in 2006 and by Appointment to HRH Prince Charles in 2014 with his team of colleagues also taking par t in the Coronation Festival in 2013.
Longstanding friend, Frank Nor ville, regarded Pope as the ‘doyen of dispensing opticians’ yet ‘devoid of any airs and graces’: ‘A meeting with Roger was something people always looked forward to. Roger was always happy to discuss and integrate latest ophthalmic technologies even while providing ver y traditional ser vices to his clientele. Roger made thousands of friends along his lifetime optical journey.’
Business par tner and practice director, Priti Kotecha, said Pope’s practice would continue in the same professional manner and uphold his principles.
‘His legacy of passion for providing the best eye care with kindness, integrity, professionalism and compassion will continue to inspire us for many years to come,’ Kotecha said.
reports) provided guidance to eye care professionals (ECPs) on all aspects of presbyopia and its management.
Luke Stevens-Burt, chief executive of the BCLA, said: ‘This research will allow us to form a global consensus on presbyopia where ECPs can see which information is evidence-based, researchers can identify gaps in current knowledge and industry can determine what still needs to be achieved.’
Research from the first four of seven papers was presented during BCLA Focus, which was held during Optometry Tomorrow in Telford on April 28-29.
GOC appoints two council associates Optometrist Rupa Patel and student optometrist Desislava Pirkova have been appointed GOC council associates and will sit alongside existing associates, Deepali Modha and Jamie Douglas.
The new recruits would gain boardroom experience through taking part in GOC council meetings and associated activity, plus by attending audit, risk and finance committee meetings.
Patel, a specialist optometrist at Moorfields Eye Hospital and a locum optometrist, has worked in glaucoma, medical retina, optometrist-led external disease, consultant-led cataract, complex adult refraction and specialist contact lens fitting clinics.
Pirkova is currently completing an optometry degree at Aston University and is a qualified dispensing optician. She manages a network of practices in Birmingham and owns a practice in Leicester.
UWE retains Optoversity title Students from the University of the West of England’s school of optometry retained their crown as champions of the Optoversity Challenge.
An online event organised by Out of the Box Optics saw 11
UWE won Optoversity 2024
universities compete with second place won by the University of Bradford and third to the University of Plymouth.
The competition also raised close to £8,500 for Vision Care for Homeless People, which predominately came from student sponsorship.
There were 51 students from all years who competed against others in their year group, with the top four scoring student in the third-year heats progressing to an OSCE-style play-off to decide the winner.
SimplyHealth launches discounted ser vices Employee health plan provider opticianonline.net
SimplyHealth has partnered with EyeMed UK to deliver eye tests and a 20% discount on frames and lenses across 1,200 locations nationwide.
New technology would also enable customers to settle the cost of eye tests and prescription eyewear up to their benefit limit in store without having to pay upfront or make a claim later.
Tina Kennedy, health plan product director at SimplyHealth said: ‘By joining forces with EyeMed, customers can find the best eye care providers, treat their conditions, fund treatments via claim-backs and discounts. Adding a direct settlement option is an exciting, significant milestone and a first for the UK health plan insurance industry.’
CHEC launces IP placement scheme Community Health and Eye Care (CHEC) has launched an independent prescribing clinical placement programme for optometrists who have been qualified for more than two years.
Optometrists will develop their diagnostic skills and understanding of the links between the theory and practice of prescribing during the on-site placement.
Imran Rahman, CEO and founder of CHEC, said: ‘This feels like a really important moment for CHEC. To be stepping up our provision of skill-building opportunities with the launch of our independent prescribing course placement demonstrates our commitment to ensuring optometrists across the country have access to the key skills and experiences they need to develop in their profession, and we’re pleased to be playing such a key role in that.’
CHEC’s independent IP programme
10 May 2024 OPTICIAN 5
