Kate Thomas, (pictured right), Orthoptic Assistant Practitioner working at Bridgend Eye Unit, has become the first person to be awarded an Agored Certificate for a passing a module in the newly created Agored Cymru Level 3 Certificate in Fundamentals of Ophthalmology (Wales) qualification.

Carl Verracchia, (pictured left), Interim Unit Manager at Princess of Wales Hospital, presented Kate with her certificate and praised the team’s commitment to training and service improvement.

This nationally accredited course has been conceived and written by the Orthoptic team at Princess of Wales Hospital. It represents the culmination of two decades of work, which began as a need to provide training for newly established technician roles. Training modules are now available, targeted at Health Care Support Workers in the field of Ophthalmology, but also valuable to nursing staff entering the discipline from a general background. Topics including ocular anatomy, ophthalmic equipment and technology, taking an ophthalmic history and testing visual acuity, with the aim of standardising training and skills amongst staff working in the ophthalmology setting across Wales.

Karen Phillips, Orthoptic Head of Service, expressed thanks to all staff involved. Notably Caroline Morris, Assistant Head Orthoptist, who has worked with Health Education and Improvement Wales and Cwm Taff Morgannwg Learning and Development colleagues to develop the course and to Gillian Thomson, Assistant Head Orthoptist, who pioneered the writing of the first training material in the early 2000s and continues to support the workforce development of the team.

Karen Phillips 30/01/2020