Benefits of being in a LINK
A LINK is a mutually beneficial partnership, allowing all members of an eye care team – nurses, optometrists, ophthalmologists and all the professionals involved in managing patients – to develop their skills, to experience different cultures and build relationships with eye care professionals internationally.
Specifically, the benefits of being in a LINK are below.
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Skill sharing
Diagnostic, treatment, administrative and technical skills of all cadres of ophthalmic staff will be improved through training, which may be in general or sub-specialty ophthalmology or any other discipline related to running the service. Through training visits between partner eye care teams, participants experience different health care systems, ways of working and techniques
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Working and training together
Team-working in new and creative ways to address the challenges faced by the overseas partner team together. Those involved in teaching and training gain experience in sharing their knowledge
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Information management
Some LINK partnerships work together to enhance information technology capability, facilitating the ability to access information, communicate electronically, and collect, store and analyse data
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Research
Some LINKS help to develop research capacity and undertake research together
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Job satisfaction
UK partners often return home with renewed energy in their working life, having been exposed to different cultures and ways of working
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Community focus
Some LINK partners choose to work together to develop community eye health programmes to increase access to eye care and awareness of eye health needs in the community
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Friendship
as well as professional contacts, LINKS participants form lifelong friendships and enjoy shared experiences that they cherish forever
Celebrating LINKS
Our Indonesian LINK has this wonderful video to celebrate a recent World Sight Day and their ongoing partnership: