Unique Domiciliary Taster Experience for the Next Generation of Optometrists

(Press Release)
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A group of second and third year optometry students from University of Plymouth recently visited the head office of OutsideClinic, the UK’s leading and longest established home-visiting optician and hearing specialist.
The unique experience gave students an insight into their state of the art equipment including EYEris (digital record system), the digital fundus camera, the I-Care Tonometer and the portable slit lamp. Under the guidance of the highly experienced ‘Super Optometrists’ Nick Wingate, Matthew Burford and Steve Clark, students were able to get ‘hands on’ with the equipment, allowing them to envisage the routine of a domiciliary optometrist.

Clinical Governance was also a hot topic, with NHS England Clinical Advisor and Domiciliary Optometrist Steve Clark leading a session on the clinical governance and professional services aspect of domiciliary eyecare. Meanwhile, Matthew Burford led a session looking at the logistics of a domiciliary visit, from scheduling through to the vast amount of support on offer from the company’s Professional Services Department.

The trip was organised by Plymouth Optometry Society, working with OutsideClinic Recruitment Department. The society, which represents approximately 200 students studying optometry at University of Plymouth, organises many professional and social events to support its students through their studies, enhancing their student life. OpSoc President Luke McRoy-Jones said ‘Plymouth OpSoc are pleased to have many ongoing partnerships across the optical industry, including with OutsideClinic. It was a pleasure to work with OutsideClinic to be able to offer this unique opportunity for our students, giving them an in depth look at an area of optometry that can often be under represented at university’.

Feedback from students has been very positive. For many who attended, being able to learn about the domiciliary sector, which they may not have otherwise considered, has provided them with a wider outlook on potential career pathways after university. Charlotte Acton, a second year optometry student said ‘It was really interesting to see the different opportunities that are available to optometrists other than working in multiples and independents. I really enjoyed learning about the different way optometrists in the domiciliary sector work and how they have to adapt to each patient they visit. It was also really useful to see the network of support out there for optometrists at OutsideClinic. It definitely seems like something I would be interested in later on in my career as an optometrist.’

OutsideClinic, which has around 140 optometrists (including locum support) nationally, currently offers the ‘Super Optometrist’ role which qualified practitioners can do on a flexible basis, locally to their home. For them, this trip provided an opportunity to increase awareness of such roles. Recruitment Manager for OutsideClinic, James Gilbert said ‘This was a great opportunity for the students to get an in-depth tour of OutsideClinic, including the opportunity to view equipment and sit down with our Optometrists to ask questions and explore what it is like to be a home visiting Optometrist.’