As the AIO Conference gets ever nearer, the difference in treatment of optometrists and dispensing opticians when it comes to funding for CET events becomes stark once again.
For optometrist CET events there is the opportunity to apply for DOCET funding, and it is a pleasure to deal with the DOCET team.
The structure of their funding is of course for OOs only and does not extend to DOs – in fact the funding can be negatively impacted by DOs being present in individual sessions – which is rather bizarre.
Needless to say, we will welcome DOs into all the sessions at our conference. Surely, it is time for dispensing opticians to be supported by their own funding regime that treats them with respect and as the qualified registered practitioners that they are.
And to be clear – this must be fresh funding and not an allocation from the existing optometrist funding pot.
Eye health care and maximising the eyewear experience for patients is at the core of the optical profession and the work of optometrists and dispensing opticians is entirely complementary in achieving the best outcomes.
To favour OOs over DOs when it comes to funding for CET makes no sense. It is time to stop treating dispensing opticians as second-class citizens.
Mike Ockenden
Secretariat lead, The Association for Independent Optometrists and Dispensing Opticians