Locum clinical skills conference 2024 - Birmingham

Session A

Discussion workshop: Cracking the comfort code

Can you help crack the code to contact lens comfort? With 75% of contact lens wearers agreeing that they would like more from their contact lenses, how can practitioners ensure they provide their patients with the best contact lens wearing experience? By incorporating peer-reviewed publications with interactive puzzles, this fast-paced, station-based discussion workshop will task practitioners to uncover some of the key factors influencing true contact lens wearer satisfaction.

Learning outcomes

• Practitioners will reflect on the importance of uncovering and understanding patients’ lifestyle, visual and ocular needs in order to provide a personalised recommendation
• Practitioners will consider how communication can influence patient understanding and acceptance of their needs, and ways to ensure that patients are actively involved in all decisions made about their care
• Practitioners will reflect on their knowledge on soft contact lens material properties and their influence on both physical and visual comfort
• Practitioners will appreciate the importance of a thorough tear film assessment on successful contact lens wear.

Speakers: Sarah Marsden, Marie-Therese Hall, Clair Bulpin, Preete Kumar, Neelam Patel

Session B

Discussion workshop: Differential diagnosis of papilloedema from pseudopapilloedema

The differential diagnosis between papilloedema and pseudopapilloedema can be extremely challenging. This discussion workshop will explore the key signs and symptoms, interpretation of visual fields, digital colour photography and OCT in these cases. Delegates will also consider referral guidelines and best-practice management of these patients.

Learning outcomes

• Practitioners will be able to identify key symptoms during clinical history to assist with differential diagnosis of papilloedema and pseudopapilloedema
• Practitioners will recognise the clinical hallmarks that can assist with differential diagnosis of papilloedema and pseudopapilloedema.

Speaker: Lorcan Butler

Session C

Discussion workshop: Essential OCT

This 60-minute workshop will cover the basics of OCT interpretation, starting with an overview of the retinal features of the normal eye. Delegates will be encouraged to start thinking about what abnormal ocular conditions might affect the various retinal layers and how to logically interpret the information presented in an OCT scan. OCT images of common ocular abnormalities will be shown, and groups will be asked to discuss the features of the image shown, give a reasoned diagnosis and possible differential diagnoses where applicable. The conditions shown will be a variety selected from (but not limited to) vitreomacular disorders, age-related macular degeneration, cystoid macular oedema, diabetic retinopathy, macular hole and glaucoma.

Learning outcomes

• Practitioners will identify clinical hallmarks on OCT for a range of retinal conditions to guide management decisions (s.7).

Speaker: Michelle Hanratty

Session D

Peer review: The wheel of misfortune

This session focusses on the common reasons for clinical negligence claims in a peer review format. It will address issues that are linked to GOC standards and the areas where common mistakes occur leading to clinical negligence claims and how to avoid them.

Learning outcomes

• Practitioners will recognise the common reasons for clinical negligence and how to avoid them
• Practitioners will identify the steps required to ensure that patient records are adequately maintained.

Speaker: Dr Peter Hampson

Peer review

Peer review: The pathway to presbyopia

This session will help delegates to explore how best to manage their presbyopic patients. It will follow the journey of an existing spherical contact lens wearer who has recently become presbyopic. This CPD will discuss the most effective ways to recommend alternative methods of visual correction based on the patients changing visual needs. Delegates will be encouraged to consider the fitting steps required for optimum success, and how this may differ at various stages of contact lens wear.

Learning outcomes

• Practitioners will appreciate the importance of a full and complete investigation of a patient’s lifestyle needs and personal requirements in order to provide personalised recommendations
• Practitioners will appreciate how to effectively communicate with patients about presbyopic correction options
• Practitioners will consider presbyopic correction options, in particular multifocal contact lens fitting, ensuring their knowledge and fitting skills are up to date.

Speakers: Robyn Marsden, Clair Bulpin, Marie-Therese Hall

Clair Bulpin

Clair graduated from Cardiff University with a first-class honours degree, and following qualification has undertaken a variety of roles including practice management. She has supervised numerous pre-registration students and has worked in both multiple and independent practice. She is a senior assessor and OSCE examiner for the College of Optometrists.

 

Lorcan Butler

Lorcan Butler is a dispensing optician and optometrist working with The Brain Tumour Charity where he is responsible for aiding practitioners in identifying and managing patients with signs and symptoms that may be associated with a brain tumour.

Lorcan has spoken extensively at optical conferences throughout the UK and Ireland. He has worked with numerous optical bodies and organisations including the AOP, ABDO, Optometry Wales, Optometry Northern Ireland and the European Academy of Optometry & Optics.

Marie-Therese Hall

Marie-Therese graduated from the University of Manchester in 2008 and completed her pre-registration year with D&A. Since qualification in 2009, she has worked in both multiple and independent practice in the North East of England in a variety of different practices.

Marie-Therese joined Johnson & Johnson Vision as a professional affairs consultant in October 2017, where she enjoys developing and delivering a variety of education and training programmes to fellow eye care professionals.

Neelam Patel

Neelam Patel has 20 years’ experience as an optometrist in practice and field-based roles working for a large multiple. Working part time as a professional affairs consultant and faculty team member with Johnson & Johnson Vision, allows her to fulfil her passion for facilitating learning through coaching to provide excellence in patient care. Neelam also works closely with the professional education team to develop learning materials and co-author CPD.

 

Michelle Hanratty

Michelle Hanratty is an independent prescribing optometrist based in private hospital practice. As optometrist lead, Michelle divides her time between cataract and refractive outpatient clinics, YAG capsulotomy procedures and managing a team of optometrists. The author of LASIK: A Handbook for Optometrists and over 35 articles in optometry peer-reviewed journals and optometry press, Michelle has been providing education to the profession for over 15 years.

As an examiner on the Scheme for Registration and independent prescribing assessment panel member, Michelle has been active in the training and assessing of optometrists entering the profession since 2001. Michelle has also engaged with optometrists of all levels across the four UK nations and her role as advisor and presenter of DOCET’s Sound Optometry podcast, has further progressed her understanding of the continuing professional and development needs of optometrists.

Dr Peter Hampson

Peter is an optometrist with over 20 years’ experience in the optical sector. He is the clinical and professional director at the Association of Optometrists. He holds a Doctor of Optometry qualification from Aston University with his early doctoral research focussed on using AI to aid diagnosis in optometric practice.

Peter is the co-chair of the optical sector Information and IT committee as well as a specialist postgraduate module leader at Cardiff University. He is a former expert witness with extensive knowledge of clinical negligence in optometric practice and regularly lectures and delivers education events related to this area of optometry. 

Preete Kumar

Preete from City University in 2003, completed a Postgraduate Diploma in Clinical Optometry in 2008 and gained a Fellowship to the International Association of Contact Lens Educators in 2017.

She has had a variety of roles over her career including resident & locum optometrist, domiciliary practice director, contact lens trainer, student clinic supervisor and professional education & development manager.

She currently works part time as a professional affairs consultant for Johnson & Johnson Vision, a role she has held for 13 years. 

Sarah Marsden

Sarah is a MECS qualified contact lens optician with a passion for meeting patient needs and exceeding their expectations. She has over 35 years experience within the optical industry mainly within multiple sector. 

In 2011 she joined Johnson & Johnson Vision Care as the Acuvue Presbyopia Specialist for the Midlands, South West England and Wales. In this role she was involved with helping select independent practices and multiples grow their Multifocal Contact Lens business through consultative selling techniques.

In 2014 she became a professional affairs consultant and joined the Johnson & Johnson Vision Care Faculty Education team in 2015 where she is involved in delivering and developing education in contact lenses, dry eye and communication skills. Sarah is also a contact lens and dispensing optician tutor for ABDO. She is passionate in supporting her peers to provide the best outcome for their patients through both education and coaching.

Address

The Studio
7 Cannon Street
Birmingham
B2 5EP

Location

The Studio is a short 3 minute walk from Birmingham New Street Station. 

Transport

By train

Birmingham New Street (3 minute walk) - Exit the North exit ‘Stephenson Street’ or ‘New Street entrance’ and head up Lower Temple street past Caffé Nero. Turn right at Starbucks and continue down New Street (Tesco on your left). Cannon Street is the second street on the left, the studio is half way along Cannon Street on the right hand side. See below for our walking video.

Birmingham Snow Hill (5 minute walk) - Exit the car park down the entrance ramp and turn left onto Livery Street. Continue to Colmore Row. At Colmore Row walk through the Cathedral park to Temple Row. With the CBRE building in front of you take Cherry Street to the left of the building. Just after McDonalds and Greggs turn right onto Cannon Street. You will find the studio half way down the street on the left.

By taxi

Taxis are often available from outside of the stations, although walking is often much quicker.

Parking

The Studio doesn’t have any onsite parking, however Birmingham Snow Hill Station Car Park, postcode B3 2BJ and Birmingham New Street Station Car Park, postcode B2 4ND are both within a 5 minute walk from the venue.

When do I select my CPD workshops?

There’s no need to select workshops before attending as delegates will have the opportunity to rotate between all sessions.

I’m no longer able to attend, how can I cancel my booking?

Please email [email protected] if you need to cancel your booking. The team will be able to ensure your cancellation and refund is processed.

Please note: Our event terms and conditions apply to all bookings. Please refer to the ‘transfers & cancellations’ section for more information.

The event is sold out, can I join a waiting list?

Yes, please email [email protected] to be added to the waiting list. If a place becomes available, a member of the AOP events team will get in touch to notify you. Please note, if you do not claim your spot within five working days of being notified, your place will be offered to the next person on the waiting list.