New Clinical and Policy Director appointed at AOP

Dr Peter Hampson appointed as Clinical and Policy Director at the AOP

Dr Hampson to drive forward the AOP’s clinical and policy work as part of the organisation’s Five-Year Strategy 

Dr Hampson will work with the AOP’s Chief Executive, Board and Council to drive forward the AOP’s clinical and policy work as part of the organisation’s Five-Year Strategy, which recognises the need to change the way health and social care is commissioned and delivered, and guide the sector as it adapts to innovative technologies as well as regulatory and legislative reform.

Dr Hampson has worked as the Professional and Clinical Director for the AOP since 2021 and prior to that was Clinical Director from 2017. He has provided expert advice across all aspects of the AOP’s clinical work, including guidance for members, clinical negligence and wider sector work, alongside delivering education content and advising the policy and communications teams.

A third-generation optometrist with a family history in optics spanning nearly 100 years, Dr Hampson joined the AOP as a Council member in 2012 and the AOP Board in 2014. In 2016, he became a Doctor of Optometry.

The AOP’s clinical and policy team will work alongside the communications team, led by John White, Communications and External Affairs Director, to grow the AOP’s influence within the sector, and externally to leaders, policy makers and the general public.

Dr Hampson said: “The AOP’s clinical and policy work plays a crucial role in shaping how our members practice now and in the future, enabling our members to fully utilise their training and talent, ensuring the brightest possible future for the optometric profession.

“It is an exciting time to be taking on this new role. The new government has committed to making better use of optometry to tackle secondary care backlogs, and this represents an opportunity to move optometry forwards.

“Our policy work has already highlighted the options available to the new Government. This includes finding ways to move stable glaucoma patients into primary care, widening the access to medications for all optometrists, and ensuring that optometrists are embedded as the first port of call for all patients with an eye problem.

“As an optometrist, I appreciate the skill, dedication and talent that exists within our profession. I also understand how hard the lack of funding has hit practices in some of the poorest parts of the country. Our commitment to ongoing research to understand the economic realities for High Street optometry will provide important insight as we seek to engage and influence policy makers in the months ahead”.