Programme

Speakers' biogs are available here: https://wcb-ccd.org.uk/conference/speakers

10:00 – 10:05  Chair's welcome and introduction 

Gwyn Williams, Consultant Ophthalmologist, Swansea Bay University Health Board

10:05 - 10:15  Unique Creative Arts Network (UCAN) Performance 

'Mental Elf, Elf Part 1'

10:15 - 10:30  Setting the scene

David O'Sullivan, Chief Optometric Advisor, Welsh Government 

10:30 – 10:45 Identifying Depression

Tim Morgan, National Clinical Lead

10:45 – 11:00 LVSW practitioners’ approaches to their patients’ loneliness and isolation

Rebecca John, WCB Researcher

11:00 – 11:15 Burnout to balance: Through resilience and recovery

Sandy Davies, Chair of the Welsh Rehabilitation Officers Forum

11:15 – 11:30 Emotional and practical support for the whole family

Mandie Wright, Royal Society for Blind Children

11:30 - 12:00  BREAK, EXHIBITION STANDS

12:00 – 12:15 Eight Voices in Darkness: An art installation to raise awareness about supporting the mental wellbeing of individuals with vision impairment *

Dr. Claire Nollett

Richard Bowers

* There will be an opportunity to visit the installation, Eight Voices in Darkness, after the conference.

12:15 – 12:30 Eyes on the Future: Developing Our Workforce

Sarah Schumm, Eye Health Training and Education Lead for Optometry, HEIW.

12:30 – 12:40 Launch of the Centre for Vision Services Research

Prof. Barbara Ryan, Cardiff University

12:40 – 13:00 Positive mental and general health: Importance of both

Isabelle Oliver, Chief Medical Officer

13:00 - 14:00  LUNCH and NETWORKING

14:00 – 14:10 Unique Creative Arts Network (UCAN) Productions

'Mental Elf, Elf Part 2'

14:10-14:25 Mental Health Strategy

Paul Casey, Deputy Director, Primary Care and Community, Welsh Government

14:25 - 14:40 Make it Make Sense: The mental toll of inaccessible health information

Anna Tylor, Chair of RNIB

14:40 – 14:55 Counselling and the importance of peer support

Nia Greer, North Wales Services Manager, Vision Support member of the Wales Vision Forum

14:55 – 15:10 The role of the Eye Clinic Liaison Officer (ECLO)

Ruth Rhydderch, ECLO, University Hospital of Wales

15:10 - 15:25 The positive impact of sport, leisure and landscapes

Gareth Davies, RNIB

James Ledger, Para Athlete

15:25 – 15:40 Looking after the Professionals

Michael Bradbury, Optometry Wales

15:40 - 16:00 Panel questions 

David O'Sullivan, Chief Optometric Advisor, Welsh Government;
Rhianon Reynolds, Llywydd of the RCOphth in Wales;
Nik Sheen, Head of Optometry, Health Education and Improvement Wales (HEIW);
Tim Morgan, WGOS National Optometric Clinical Lead.

16.00  Closing remarks

Gwyn Williams, Consultant Ophthalmologist, Swansea Bay University Health Board

Exhibitors

Wales Vision Forum

Pick up a copy of the latest Perspectif newsletter about the new Forum website.

Centre for Vision Services Research

If you want to get involved in research or have ideas for research projects, the Centre for Vision Services Team would love to talk to you.

Welsh Rehab Officers Forum

Pick up a copy of the new Vision Rehabilitation Charter.

Optometry Wales