How to make friends and influence MPs

Practitioners are being urged to win the hearts and minds of politicians in the run-up to the general election so the profession can advance its key messages.

An easy-to-use guide on how to meet and greet prospective MPs is being mailed from the AOP and other professional bodies to LOCs and AOCs asking their members to be the foot soldiers in helping to make MPs allies to optics.

It is hoped that any action will create a 'reservoir of friends in Parliament who understand our issues and will be willing to help state our case'.

With a plethora of issues involving optics at the moment - therapeutic prescribing, ophthalmic list changes, modernisation of the Opticians Act, mandatory CET, and the first GOS review ... new AOP boss Bob Hughes told optician this week the briefing was aimed at providing a simple guide to extending influence on two fronts.

'None of the suggestions for action are complicated, or will take up an inordinate amount of time,' he said. 'However, they will help advance the profession generally and, more particularly, in your locality.'

Hughes, a former MP himself, said the charm offensive was necessary, and could start by inviting candidates to visit a practice.

Other objectives include spreading knowledge about the profession's contribution to the eye health of the country, and why the 'small amount of public money spent on eye care delivered in the community represents very good value for the taxpayer'.

The briefing includes a guide on what to do prior to the election - which is widely predicted to be on May 5 - and what can be achieved during the campaign.

It suggests a 100-word statement (see panel) to help practitioners ask questions of the candidates at public meetings, and asks that after the election practitioners send information on to ABDO, AOP or FODO, especially regarding any successful candidates.

The paper points to four areas of possible expansion of community eye care: triaging, gaps in evaluating eye problems, low vision and 'ensuring the best development for your child's eyesight'.