Having just read the latest edition of Optician (November 3, 2017) I was glad to see pictures of support staff and technicians being awarded their diplomas and prizes by the newly installed Master of the Worshipful Company of Spectacle Makers, Felicity Harding. As a WCSM Liveryman I am pleased to see so many people achieve recognition for the hard work that goes in to studying for and achieving these qualifications.
We are now firmly in the optical ‘awards season’. I am fortunate to be invited to the College of Optometrists Diploma Ceremony next week to see the many newly qualified optometrists get ‘capped’ and those achieving higher qualifications. Of course, our own ABDO Graduation and Prize Giving Ceremony takes place at Canterbury Cathedral later this month. It will be my privilege to confer graduation to new dispensing opticians with a ceremonial handshake and congratulate those who have achieved further qualifications.
I think what we witness at these ceremonies bodes well for the future as we seek to deliver ever expanding services to our patients and with the speed of technological change that is no mean feat. Regardless of our role in optical practice, the public are surely better served by clinicians, registrants, technicians and support staff that are well trained and deliver excellent service.
The roles in optics of tomorrow are yet to be defined, however, one thing is a certainty – we will need well trained, passionate individuals to deliver services to the public, most likely with the help of technology. So as we look forward to what the future brings, I for one am very glad to be working within a vibrant sector of well trained individuals who work in teams across the country to look after the eye care needs of the whole nation.