This year marks an important milestone for community optometry in Scotland as we celebrate 20 years of General Ophthalmic Services (GOS). Since 2006, GOS has transformed the delivery of eye care, bringing services closer to home and establishing community optometry as an integral part of Scotland’s primary care landscape.
Throughout this anniversary year, there are many ways members can engage with Optometry Scotland and help us celebrate the achievements of the profession, while also shaping its future.
- Host a practice visit for your MSP. Following this year’s Scottish Parliament elections, there is a new cohort of MSPs keen to understand the issues affecting their constituents, if you would be interested in hosting a practice visit, please let us know. These visits are invaluable in showcasing the important role community optometry plays in primary care.
- Support careers events. Are you attending a careers event in your area Optometry Scotland can provide interactive and giveaway materials to help raise awareness of careers within the profession.
- Get involved in community events. From local fairs to awareness campaigns, community events provide an excellent opportunity to promote eye health. We can support you with resources and materials.
- Take part in our engagement activity. Throughout the year, Optometry Scotland undertakes engagement activity with members, policymakers and stakeholders. We encourage you to contribute wherever possible.
- Share case studies from your practice. Real-life examples help demonstrate the impact of community optometry. If you have an interesting case study or patient journey to share, we’d love to hear from you.
- Respond to our requests to help inform consultations and tell us your concerns. Your views help shape our advocacy work. Please continue to share feedback on consultations and raise any issues affecting your practice.
- Help us improve our communications. We are always looking to enhance the way we communicate with members. If you have suggestions relating to our communications or website, please get in touch,
- Keep up to date with consultation responses. Consultation responses are a key part of our policy work. Stay informed about the positions Optometry Scotland is taking on behalf of the profession.
- Follow Optometry Scotland on social media. Keep up to date with our latest news and activity by following us across our social media channels. We always welcome feedback and ideas for future content.
- Celebrate achievements within your practice. Has your team received recognition, completed a significant milestone or launched a new initiative? Let us know so we can help celebrate your success.
- Engage with CPD and professional events. Continuing professional development is essential to supporting high-quality patient care. Keep an eye on upcoming CPD opportunities and events.
- Explore opportunities to extend your qualifications. If you’re considering expanding your scope of practice, investigate the training and qualifications available to support your professional development.
- Share practice developments with us. Whether you’ve introduced a new service, welcomed a new team member or undertaken refurbishment work, we’d be delighted to showcase positive developments from across Scotland.
- Consider becoming involved in NESGAT provision. There remains a need for NESGAT provision in several areas of Scotland. If you have been considering undertaking the qualification, now may be the time to explore the opportunity.
- Share feedback on General Ophthalmic Services Specialist Supplementary (GOS SS) and the Community Glaucoma Service (CGS). Your experiences are vital in helping us advocate effectively on behalf of the profession. Please continue to share your feedback with us.
- Continue to support Optometry Scotland. Your engagement and involvement help strengthen our collective voice and ensure we can continue to represent the profession effectively.
- Contribute to our strategic direction. If you have feedback on Optometry Scotland’s manifesto priorities or strategic objectives, we would welcome hearing from you.
- Support our campaigns online. Engaging with and sharing our social media content helps extend our reach and amplify important messages about community optometry.
- Continue to provide feedback. Whether positive or constructive, your feedback enables us to improve the support and representation we provide to members.
- Stand for election to Optometry Scotland. Elections for Optometry Scotland’s independent regional representatives will take place later this year. If you are interested in helping shape the future direction of the organisation, we encourage you to consider standing for election. Elections for Optometry Scotland’s independent regional representatives will take place later this year. If you are interested in helping shape the future direction of the organisation, we encourage you to consider standing for election
Finally, we hope many of you will join us throughout the year as we celebrate this significant anniversary, including at our GOS 20 gala evening. It is an opportunity to reflect on how far community optometry has come over the past two decades, recognise the contributions of those who have helped shape the profession, and look ahead to the opportunities that lie ahead.
Thank you for your continued support of Optometry Scotland and for the vital role you play in delivering high-quality eye care to communities across Scotland. Here’s to the next 20 years of General Ophthalmic Services.