NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde congratulates Specialist Orthoptist, Claire McFadden on becoming the first person in Scotland to complete a Masters in Ophthalmology, Advanced Clinical Practice (Paediatrics).
As a member of the Paediatric Ophthalmology team at the Royal Hospital for Children, Glasgow (RHC), Claire’s dedication and hard work have not only earned her this qualification but have also significantly enhanced the Paediatric Ophthalmology service at the RHC.
Claire’s advanced training has empowered her to take on greater responsibilities, including the implementation of a virtual clinic. The ophthalmology service is now treating around 250 children with virtual and face-to-face outpatient appointments per week.
Ophthalmology involves the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of eye and visual system diseases. Claire explained the service:
“In paediatrics, it is about delivering person-centred care and working with families. Communicating with parents and carers is a huge part of my role.
“A baby or child might be referred to our service for issues such as excessive eye watering, vision troubles, or ongoing pain. These problems can often cause discomfort and irritation but are usually easily resolved with treatment plans from home. The range can be vast as we also assess children that may have a squint in their eye or identify more serious neurological or life-threatening conditions.
“Previously, some patients had to wait to see a consultant. Now, with my training, I can triage patients via the virtual clinic. If the condition requires self-care at home, I can advise parents on how to manage it. For conditions like a squint, I can provide a surgery referral, which previously had to go through our consultants meaning longer waits for families.
“My training has also enabled me to create pathways between services where eyecare can be an issue, such as oncology. No two days are the same in this role.”
Specialist training in paediatric ophthalmology is crucial but challenging to recruit for, which is partly what inspired Claire to pursue her Masters. She said:
“I had been an orthoptist for several years when I saw an advert for a Masters degree in paediatric ophthalmology. I was eager to develop my skills and recognised that by doing so, I could support the service further. Triaging patients for consultants and allowing them to treat priority patients sooner is one example of this.”
Claire’s Masters journey was made possible through a department endowment fund for her first year and an NHSGGC bursary for the remaining two years. This week, Claire celebrated her achievement at a graduation ceremony.
Elaine McCrossan, Head Orthoptist at the Royal Hospital for Children, Glasgow, praised Claire’s contributions:
“Claire has been in one of our specialist orthoptic posts for months now and has made a significant impact on patient safety and supporting our visually vulnerable patients. We are incredibly proud of her for juggling her work at the hospital, personal life, and studies over the past three years to achieve this success – well done, Claire!”
