Meet The Team: Danielle Ellis, Optical Lead
16 August 2022
“It was a surreal experience” Danielle says as she reflects on the pandemic, quickly adding “but a professionally rewarding one”.
As vice-chair of Barnet, Enfield, Camden and Haringey LOC (BECH LOC) Danielle had organised for eyecare professionals to get early vaccinations enabling them to work face to face with patients in the early stages of the pandemic. She recalls: “Dressed in full PPE, places deserted, and only seeing patients with symptoms. Seeing patients with eye related issues, keeping them out of secondary care.”
Keeping patients away from secondary care is a driving force for Danielle, she adds: “Now more than ever I feel we can make a change, Covid has proved things can change quickly and it’s given us the opportunity in primary care to develop our roles, help society, improve our knowledge, up skill professionals, building more collaborative approaches between primary and secondary care”
That passion for change and collaboration has always burned brightly. Danielle says she was hooked on her chosen profession early on: “I’ve always been fascinated by eyes. There was a local optometrist near to where I lived growing up, I asked if I could do some work experience with him in my teens and I’ve looked forward from there (excuse the pun!).”
She says she genuinely enjoys her job adding: “Every now and again you will get a reminder that you’ve saved someone’s sight or really made a difference and that is a great reminder of the importance of the work we do.”
Although she qualified in Manchester, a place she describes as “great when it wasn’t raining”, Danielle was born and bred in London so it’s perhaps no surprise she gravitated back south to settle. She now lives and works there with her husband and three children.
She explains: “I’ve worked for one of the large multiples for many years and have also done a lot of work in the independent sector. When I’m not in clinic, I am also a registrant member of the GOC Fitness to practise committee and Vice Chair of BECH LOC”
It seems to be a theme with our optical leads that they don’t like to keep still. Hardworking and passionate professionals who can’t help but stay busy in their downtime as well. Danielle is no exception to this: “I love exercise and playing sport. I’ve run 2 London marathons, I enjoy swimming, netball and recently climbed Helvellyn with my daughter to raise money for the charity Make-A-Wish Foundation.”
As for the future she believes it’s an exciting time to be joining the profession: “There are so many great opportunities to further and develop your career to keep you fresh, motivated and interested in Optometry – whether that be working in different clinical settings, management, coaching and supervision, developing new services between primary and secondary care and lots more!”