Bhavina Patel

Overview

Postgraduate lecturer specializing in independent prescribing. Currently also working in community and hospital fields as IP optometrist and Clinical lead/Senior triager for SE London's Primary Ophthalmic Solutions.

Bhavina studied optometry at Aston University and has over 20 years of experience in both the multiple and independent sector. She is clinical lead, information governance lead and holds a senior management position within a small chain of independent practices. She is a member of the Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham LOC and is the Clinical Governance and Performance Lead for Primary Ophthalmic Solutions, providing local community optometric services such as minor eye conditions, glaucoma referral refinement, glaucoma repeat readings, cataract referral refinement, post-operative cataract assessment and paediatric referral refinement. Bhavina also works as a specialist optometrist and glaucoma practitioner at St Thomas’ Hospital and leads South-East London’s Minor Eye Conditions education programme. In her role as senior triager for SE London's Primary Ophthalmic Solutions, she works with the single point of access team and oversees ophthalmic referrals to Kings College London and St Thomas' Hospital.

As an accredited facilitator and CPD provider, she has written and run numerous CPD events, lectures, workshops and peer discussions for fellow optometrists, dispensing opticians, GPs and ophthalmologists. With a keen interest in acute eye conditions and glaucoma, she has obtained her diploma in independent prescribing and her diploma in glaucoma as well as professional certificates in medical retina, low vision and paediatrics.

Qualifications

• Professional Certificate in Paediatrics, College of Optometrists, United Kingdom, July 2024
• Diploma in Glaucoma, College of Optometrists, United Kingdom, July 2024
• Professional Certificate in Low Vision, College of Optometrists, United Kingdom, February 2024
• Professional Certificate in Medical Retina, College of Optometrists, United Kingdom, February 2020
• Professional Higher Certificate in Glaucoma, College of Optometrists, United Kingdom, November 2019
• Diploma in Therapeutics: Independent Prescribing, College of Optometrists, United Kingdom, December 2018
• Professional Certificate in Glaucoma, College of Optometrists, United Kingdom, February 2018
• BSc, Aston University, United Kingdom, September 1998 - July 2001
• BSc, University College London, United Kingdom, September 1995 - July 1998

Postgraduate training

• Postgraduate Diploma in Clinical Optometry, Cardiff University, Cardiff, United Kingdom, September 2018 - August 2020

Employment

• Specialist Optometrist - Glaucoma practitioner, Guys and St Thomas Hospital Trust, United Kingdom, October 2019 - present
• Clinical lead & Senior Triager, Primary Ophthalmic Solutions, United Kingdom, July 2019 - present
• Senior Optometrist - Clinical Lead, R Woodfall Opticians, June 2004 - present