Negotiating and lobbying with Scottish Government seen as most valued Optometry Scotland activities
Our members and potential members of Optometry Scotland were invited to complete a survey in November last year, to provide insight into their perception of OS and our current services.
The survey also looked at identifying members’ future service needs and priorities.
The most valued activity carried out by OS on behalf of our members was identified as negotiating with the Scottish Government on raised membership issues – and 96% of respondents believe this to be the organisation’s most valuable activity.
Lobbying key members of the Scottish Parliament to educate and update on key issues relating to community optometry and services is also important to 67% of members.
Scottish Government was a recurring theme in the survey results. Awareness of the services offered by OS is greatest in relation to negotiating with the Scottish Government.
In particular, in relation to increased funding in General Ophthalmic Services fees, as well as on other funding streams, and for implementation of new technology to be incorporated into NHS-funded eye examinations.
Some 85% of those who took part in the survey know that OS successfully negotiated the General Ophthalmic Services fee increase. They are also aware that we continue to work with Scottish Government to develop a sustainable long-term model for funding reviews.
Raising the profile of optometry and ophthalmic dispensing ranked second in terms of awareness, followed by the lobbying of key members of the Scottish Parliament to educate and update on key issues relating to community optometry and services.
Our survey showed that the most valued OS membership benefits are information sharing, representation, clinical advice and member enquiries. Looking to the future, the survey highlighted an appetite for the development of a CPD programme for members (64%) as well as the creation of a member exclusive section of the OS website which would host a range of relevant information and opportunities.
Both individual and organisational members agree that OS has a good reputation. 78% of individual members and 70% of organisational members expressed this view. 62% strongly agree that OS is a recognised brand.
The survey outperformed its aims, attracting 205 respondents. They were drawn from current and potential members. The vast majority of respondents (75%), hold a full-time membership. The remaining respondents were part-time members (15%), individual memberships (7%), locums (2%) and students (2%).
And the split of respondents between independents (53%) and multiples was split almost evenly.
Thank you to everyone who took part in the survey, which has provided extremely useful insight which will be used to shape our activity in 2023.
If you have any questions or comments, we’d love to hear from you – please drop us a line at office@optometryscotland.org.uk
