Voting is open for the Association of Optometrists (AOP) Hospital Optometrists Committee (HOC) elections, with members invited to cast their votes for three vacant seats.
The HOC serves as a voice for optometrists working in hospital settings, advocating for their interests while promoting high standards of postgraduate education and best practices within hospital optometry.
HOC members are elected to serve three-year terms.
Ten candidates are standing for election:
- Deirdre Burns, Belfast Health and Social Care Trust
- Matthew Chan, Bristol Eye Hospital, University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust
- Michelle Claire Corrin, Alder Hey Children’s NHS FT and Countess of Chester NHS FT
- Inderpal Ghuman, Moorfields Eyes Hospital, NHS Foundation Trust
- Elizabeth Hunt, Aneurin Bevan University Health Board
- Andrew Sivaprakash Asirwatham Knight, Great Western Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
- Nisha Mehta, SpaMedica
- Amandeep Rai, Queen Elizabeth Hospital
- Jeenal Shah, Newmedica Bristol
- Alison Weston, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust.
Members eligible to stand for election must:
- Be a current AOP member with a paid subscription
- Hold a full-time or part-time hospital optometrist position with a Health Authority, Health Board, or NHS Trust
- Be an optometrist in a similar role at alternative NHS providers.
Adam Sampson, AOP Chief Executive, said: “This election provides an important opportunity to make sure that the views and priorities of our members working in hospital optometry are strongly represented. I encourage all eligible members to participate in this crucial process by casting your votes, which will shape the Committee’s efforts to drive innovation, collaboration, and progress in hospital optometry.”
Voting will remain open until 7 May, with the results of the election set to be announced shortly after. The newly elected members will officially take their positions during the Annual General Meeting in June. For more information on the election process, please visit http://www.aop.org.uk/HOCelection2025