Guiding patients and public with eyecare concerns during the Covid-19 Crisis

Mr Robert Hutchinson is a retired optometrist, working for 35 years in both community and hospital settings, he is a CEO of Primary Health Net Ltd providing a knowledge web resource to the optometric community used by over 7500 professionals at www.primaryhealthnet.com as well as also hosting a public eye care and eye wear website visited by over 30,000 people each month at www.mylocaloptician.co.uk.

Through his Eros Business Consulting management company, he advises on primary care issues to CCGs and LPNs as well as to industry and optical practices using his background knowledge in strategic and knowledge management.  

He has assisted in the creation of several practice management systems including the provision of indicators within these systems to alert staff to poor NHS adherence in practice and the measurement of outcomes.

He has held office in the General Optical Council, the College of Optometrists and the Federation of Ophthalmic and Dispensing Opticians, helped create the university optometric course in Cambridge at Anglia Ruskin and co-wrote the HMRC business brief on Full Cost Apportionment of VAT on spectacle and contact lens dispensing. 

He also advises the Worshipful Company of Spectacle Makers on membership issues, being a liveryman of the company and past court assistant. 

His long-held view is that ‘Primary Care works best when it works together across professional boundaries’.

Phil Ambler is Director, Evidence and Policy, Thomas Pocklington Trust and provides the operational lead for the England Vision Strategy Committee in delivering the England Vision Strategy through partnership working. Phil has been in the eye health and sight loss sector for almost a decade having worked for the UK Vision Strategy prior to his role with TPT. Phil currently chairs the Vision UK Early Intervention and Enablement Committee and is also Chair, DWP Access to Work Forum as well as being a Trustee for London Vision.

Phil has worked for a number of organisations previously including the Workers' Educational Association and the British Broadcasting Corporation. Phil has also been a Trustee for Healthwatch Hounslow.