Welcome to Atholl Eyecare

For the period: 01 January 2026 – 31st December 2025
Organisation Name: Atholl Eyecare
Contact: optom.52374@nhs.scot

About Atholl Eyecare

Atholl Eyecare is a community-based independent optician practice located in Pitlochry, Scotland. We serve patients of all ages, providing a range of primary eye care services including NHS and private sight tests, contact lens assessments, optical dispensing, and onward referrals for secondary care where needed. Our focus is on maintaining a high standard of care while supporting the visual health and wellbeing of our local community.

How many incidents happened to which the organisational duty of candour applies?

There have been no incidents to which the organisational duty of candour applied. That is, there were no unintended or unexpected incidents that resulted in, or could have resulted in, significant harm as defined in the relevant legislation.

Information About Our Policies and Procedures

Atholl Eyecare has a clear internal policy and procedural guide relating to the organisational duty of candour. The policy sets out the steps staff must follow in the event of a notifiable incident and is updated annually.

Staff Training and Awareness

• All new staff receive training on the organisational duty of candour during their induction period.
• Existing staff participate in annual refreshers, which include updates on relevant legislation, case study reviews, and our internal reporting protocol.
• Our training includes guidance on compassionate communication, with resources linked to NHS Education for Scotland’s learning materials.

What Happens if the Duty of Candour is Triggered

Should an incident occur, it is reported directly to the practice manager, who is the responsible person for overseeing Duty of Candour compliance.

• The practice manager ensures the incident is logged, risk assessed, and reported to Healthcare Improvement Scotland if necessary.
• An open and honest discussion is arranged with the person affected (and/or their family), followed by a written apology and a plan to investigate and  learn from the event.
• We complete an internal review and develop an action plan to prevent recurrence, which is shared with relevant staff.

Support Available to Staff

• We  acknowledge that involvement in a serious incident can be distressing. All  staff have access to our Employee Assistance Programme, which provides  confidential counselling.
• Senior  management offers one-to-one support and debrief sessions, emphasising a  no-blame culture focused on learning.

Support for Relevant Persons

• Although  no incidents have occurred this year, in the event that someone is affected, we offer emotional and practical support through access to wellbeing resources such as Mind to Mind (NHS Inform).
• Staff are trained to guide patients and families to external support services and ensure sensitive communication throughout the process.

What Have We Learned?

Although no incidents required the organisational duty of candour to be activated this year, we have taken the opportunity to review and reinforce our internal processes:

• Our policy was reviewed in January 2026 to ensure alignment with updated national guidance.
• We  conducted a reflective exercise during staff training to discuss case scenarios and how we would respond.
• Feedback      from staff and patients has continued to shape our approach to openness, communication, and improvement.

This ongoing reflection ensures we remain prepared, informed, and accountable, upholding the values at the heart of the Duty of Candour.

Other Information

This report is publicly available at our practice reception.

A copy has also been shared with Healthcare Improvement Scotland as required under the organisational duty of candour framework.

The organisational duty of candour lead at Atholl Eyecare is:
Kathleen McQuade, Practice Manager – optom.52374@nhs.scot

We hope you find this report informative. If you have any questions or would like more information, please contact us at optom.52374@nhs.scot