Local optician picks up national award for work during pandemic

Kim picks up the award at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London

An optician based in Saddleworth has picked up a national award for her work during the Covid pandemic.

Kim Walker, who works at Allegro Optical in Greenfield, picked up the award for “Dispensing Optician of the Year” at the National Optician Awards.  

Kim was one of only four nominees who were selected from all over the UK and was presented with the award at an exclusive ceremony in London.  
 
The optician was selected by the judging panel for her 'tireless contributions' to eye care during the pandemic.  During the last 18 months, Kim and her colleagues have been dispensing prescription safety eyewear to as many frontline NHS staff as possible as they battle the COVID-19 pandemic.  The service helped to ensure that hospital staff were not only well protected but could see as well as possible to carry out their vital work.

Kim worked long hours in practice and at several hospitals, seeing up to 50 patients a day.  Often, on her her days off, Kim went into work and often stayed overnight due to bad weather. Yet despite working under challenging conditions, Kim has dispensed and fitted over 2000 pairs of safety glasses to NHS frontline workers, completing over 4000 appointments.

"It was a privilege to be shortlisted, let alone win,” said Kim. "I feel truly humbled and this is one the highlights of my life.  As a team, we pride ourselves on our professionalism, experience and dedication; we were honoured to be able to support NHS frontline staff and it is an incredible feeling to take home this award for the second time in three years.”

This is the second time Allegro Optical has taken home the award in three years. Managing Director Sheryl Doe was also named “Dispensing Optician of the Year” in 2019.

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