Scope names 2024 IP Bursary Award winners

Scope has announced the winners of its 2024 Independent Prescriber (IP) Bursary Awards.

Now in its third year, the scheme awards winners with a bursary towards tuition fees to enhance their clinical skills and qualify as independent prescribers (IP). The prize for first place was increased to £3000 this year.

To apply, optometrists submit a patient case study where they believe having an IP qualification would have improved the patient’s experience and care.

The final for the 2024 awards was held on 17 June and saw six finalists present case studies to a panel of judges.

Orlágh Conway, from OC Eyecare in Carrickmore, was announced as the overall winner of the 2024 awards.

Conway commented: “I am delighted to be the recipient of the IP Bursary 2024. This investment by SCOPE will be invaluable to the rural community that I serve in the north of Ireland.”

Describing the ability to prescribe as a “gamechanger,” Conway added: “The future of optometry is bright, and by upskilling, I am giving my patients next level patient care.”

Aaminah Khan, a locum optometrist based in Warwickshire, and Sonam Hussain, from Specsavers Leamington Spa, were named as runners-up and each received £1500 towards IP course fees.

Describing her career journey, and the effect of the Scope IP scheme, Khan said: “In 2022, I made the conscious decision to temporarily slow down my career aspirations to focus on raising my son. For those, like me, who are passionate about advancing the field of optometry, it can be challenging to manage both professional growth and family commitments.”

“So I am incredibly thankful to Scope for the opportunity and the support to reintegrate into the profession with IP,” Khan shared, adding: “I am very excited to start this new chapter, eager to learn from the course, and begin to offer my patients an enhanced level of ophthalmic care.”

Hussain shared that as a “firm advocate” for IP: “I am very excited to begin my journey to becoming IP qualified.”

“This bursary will provide me with a firm foundation in undertaking the IP course and using it in future practice, to the benefit of my patients and the local community,” she said.

Hussain continued: “Integrated healthcare is the future of the profession, and as someone who conducts a large majority of minor eye conditions/enhanced optical services appointments in my area, being IP qualified will help provide optimal patient care and limit unnecessary onward referrals to an already overburdened healthcare system.”

The judging panel was made up of Professor Nick Rumney, Sarah Farrant, and Dr Keyur Patel.

The three finalists, each receiving a £100 educational voucher, were named as: Aalia Rahman, from Whipps Cross Hospital & Goldsmith and Webb Opticians, Adham Khan, locum optometrist, and John Davidson, from Querido & Davidson.

Edel Duffy, head of medical at Scope, commented: “We are delighted that the Scope IP Bursary Awards have generated such continued interest among optometrists looking to upskill. This can only benefit patients. Scope is committed to enabling optometrists to provide quality care for their patients.”