Skip to main content
Read page text
page 6
facebook.com/opticianonline IN FOCUS Utilising the workforce Andrew McCarthy-McClean inter views Gillian Ruddock about College presidency, multidisciplinar y teams and connecting primar y and secondar y care IT connectivity, pathway development and more training opportunities for optometrists were identified as key areas for the profession by the new president of the College of Optometrists. Gillian Ruddock told Optician that enhanced connectivity across primary and secondary care was an opportunity for optometry to create better pathways for improved patient care. ‘If we can get that two-way process, you won’t be working in a bunker, you’ll be able to co-treat and co-manage, and transfer care to the right place in both directions. We have patients in secondary care who don’t need to be seen here, who are managed most appropriately in primary care. ‘It is a big barrier, but the pathways need to be in place to allow that to happen and it needs to be properly funded. We can’t expect optometrists to take on more responsibility without acknowledging that those pathways need to be properly commissioned. ‘If you’re asking people to take on more responsibility, you need to make sure that they’re competent and comfortable to do that, and that comes back to training. We need to make sure that the training is appropriate and funded and is lifelong learning as well. An optometrist comes out of university not fully formed; they need the opportunity to build on that going forward. It is all down to properly commissioned pathways and training the workforce,’ she explained. Ruddock said the College has Gillian Ruddock worked with the Royal College of Ophthalmologists on Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine but noted some responsibility landed with manufacturers to ensure all equipment spoke the same language. 6 OPTICIAN 26 July 2024 A VARIED CAREER Ruddock took office as president of the College of Optometrists in April and said it was a privilege to be elected by her peers. ‘To have that level of responsibility that they feel you are the person who they want to represent their profession. It really is an accolade. I’m very honoured,’ she told Optician. Ruddock has been a College council member for the north-west for several years and previously been chair of its education and standards committee. opticianonline.net
page 7
Follow us on Twitter @opticianonline She was an undergraduate at Aston University and completed her pre-reg with a regional group in the West Midlands where she stayed for two years before going back to university to complete a PhD, exploring electrophysiology and the development of vision in babies. During that time, Ruddock had the opportunity to take the role of clinical demonstrator; a tutor working with undergraduates, doing hands-on clinical training and tuition. ‘That was a great mix to be able to do research and education at the same time. Then I had the opportunity to locum in independent and multiple practices. I did some sessions in a hospital and I got very involved in provision of low vision services within that hospital. I think that really sparked my interest then to go into a hospital career,’ she explained. Ruddock held the position of consultant optometrist and head of eye support at Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust where she led a multi-disciplinary team. ‘I’ve been working in secondary care from then onwards but dipping in and out and doing other things like continuing to do some sessions in the university, some practice research, working with the CQC and working for NICE. It’s been a varied career and it’s given me lots of opportunities to look at the sector broadly,’ she said. GAINING EXPERIENCE Ruddock recalled her first sight test as the inspiration for pursuing a career in optometry and described the optometrist as a magician who helped her see. When Ruddock was older, she was supported by a local optometrist who gave her a Saturday job, encouraged her to study optometry at university and then hired her again once qualified. ‘I think that shows the importance of mentorship. There was somebody there who was encouraging me and that role of mentorship has supported me throughout my career. I’ve had mentors in all sorts of places as I’ve gone on through my career. I’ve opticianonline.net had the opportunity to do that for other people and I think that support should never be underestimated,’ Ruddock said. Ruddock added that she has gained something from all of these experiences and the variety of roles she has held during her career. ‘It’s about building on those experiences and having a curious competencies but are not facilitated to use them because of a funding pathways. That’s something I’m very passionate about; use the workforce that we have,’ she said. Ruddock has worked at Wirral Hospital for 25 years in positions such as head of eye support, clinical service lead and been “People have amazing competencies but are not facilitated to use them because of a funding pathways. That’s something I’m ver y passionate about; use the workforce that we have.” mind on how different roles and aspects work. I’ve spent the most time working in hospital, so that’s probably where my information comes from. That has allowed me to develop clinically, managerially and politically because you’re working in a very political environment within the NHS. ‘It has also allowed me the opportunity to move outside that area. I worked on the NICE cataract guidance, which was fascinating to see how NICE put consultant optometrist for around 10 years. She line-managed orthoptics, optometry and imaging, which gave her a wide remit across the teams that provide additional support to ophthalmology. ‘A team is the sum of its parts and it’s acknowledging that everybody has a part to play within that pathway. I can’t do my job if my colleagues are not doing their job and vice versa. It’s symbiotic. We all have to work together. It’s working “Optometrists are the GPs of eyes. If you have something wrong with your eyes, your first por t of call is an optometrist; that’s what should be happening.” together the guidance that ultimately directs the way we practice,’ she said. Ruddock noted that taking opportunities to develop as a clinician through additional qualifications, such as independent prescribing, has led her to managing a team who work at the top of their licenses. ‘You have to facilitate people to do that and it is one of the difficulties that we have in optometry currently. We have a huge skillset. People have amazing across traditional professional boundaries and breaking those down, acknowledging that you come from a different place with a different skillset, but actually building on those in a collaborative way to make sure that ultimately your goal is to deliver the best care for the patient. ‘As long as we are all focused on that, you can get the absolute best out of the people that you have. It’s acknowledging that there are challenges but being inclusive, and I’m a real proponent of distributed leadership. Everybody has the opportunity to be a leader and, even though the buck stops with me, I’m very dependent on the people that I work with.’ POSITIVE RHETORIC Speaking on the day the UK voted in the general election, Ruddock was optimistic about the future of optometry because the profession was united in its message and the rhetoric from political parties was positive. ‘Never before have I felt that we are sitting on the same side of the table with the main players. We know what needs to happen and it’s now presenting that united front to policymakers, politicians, the people with the money, and saying “we’ve got the solutions, you just need to enact them.” That’s the opportunity. It’s then down to the people who hold the funding to go, “yeah, we can do it”.’ Prior to the election, Ruddock said the College worked with sector partners, NHS England and the national clinical director and had conversations with decision makers. ‘Part of my early role is making those links with the people who are influencing the people who have the power, making sure that optometry is visible, having that voice and discussing the solutions to the challenges that optometry and eye care are facing,’ she said. Ruddock added that part of the College’s responsibility was based on making sure eye care was accessible and that patients were receiving the best quality care, which could be achieved by ensuring optical practices were the first port of call for eye related issues. ‘Optometrists are the GPs of eyes. If you have something wrong with your eyes, your first port of call is an optometrist; that’s what should be happening. It’s about awareness campaigns and I know in Scotland they’ve done a lot of work around that rhetoric. Patients shouldn’t be wandering into A&E or trying to get an appointment with a GP. We’re starting to see more of that in Wales as the new contracts rolling out. It would be fantastic to see it happening across the UK.’ • 26 July 2024 OPTICIAN 7

Page Text

View plaintext

facebook.com/opticianonline

IN FOCUS

Utilising the workforce

Andrew McCarthy-McClean inter views Gillian Ruddock about College presidency, multidisciplinar y teams and connecting primar y and secondar y care

IT connectivity, pathway development and more training opportunities for optometrists were identified as key areas for the profession by the new president of the College of Optometrists.

Gillian Ruddock told Optician that enhanced connectivity across primary and secondary care was an opportunity for optometry to create better pathways for improved patient care.

‘If we can get that two-way process, you won’t be working in a bunker, you’ll be able to co-treat and co-manage, and transfer care to the right place in both directions. We have patients in secondary care who don’t need to be seen here, who are managed most appropriately in primary care.

‘It is a big barrier, but the pathways need to be in place to allow that to happen and it needs to be properly funded. We can’t expect optometrists to take on more responsibility without acknowledging that those pathways need to be properly commissioned.

‘If you’re asking people to take on more responsibility, you need to make sure that they’re competent and comfortable to do that, and that comes back to training. We need to make sure that the training is appropriate and funded and is lifelong learning as well. An optometrist comes out of university not fully formed; they need the opportunity to build on that going forward. It is all down to properly commissioned pathways and training the workforce,’ she explained.

Ruddock said the College has

Gillian Ruddock worked with the Royal College of Ophthalmologists on Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine but noted some responsibility landed with manufacturers to ensure all equipment spoke the same language.

6 OPTICIAN 26 July 2024

A VARIED CAREER Ruddock took office as president of the College of Optometrists in April and said it was a privilege to be elected by her peers.

‘To have that level of responsibility that they feel you are the person who they want to represent their profession. It really is an accolade. I’m very honoured,’ she told Optician.

Ruddock has been a College council member for the north-west for several years and previously been chair of its education and standards committee.

opticianonline.net

read next page

My Bookmarks

Buy this Book
Skip to main content