Doug Perkins announces the winners of the 2021 Doug Perkins Medal

19 August 2021

On Wednesday 18 August, Specsavers hosted the Alcon SCC online series with the 2021 Doug Perkins Medal winners announced by the one and only Doug Perkins.

Introduced in 2018, the prestigious Doug Perkins Medal is presented to one Australian and one New Zealand store each year in recognition of high standards of clinical excellence and patient care.

This year the award goes to the stores that has demonstrated the most significant contribution to providing access to quality eye care during and after COVID restrictions.

The store winner in Australia:

Hervey Bay Piabla, Qld

Led by partners Sarel Van der Westhuizen, Tash Cannan and Gabbi Pezzuto

The store winner in New Zealand:

Queenstown

Led by partners Sophie Woodburn and Leigh Jackson

The award is based on a nation-wide analysis using data collected through the Specsavers Clinical Report. The information from reporting was combined with data from Specsavers’ patient feedback platform, as well as health outcome data from the Oculo electronic referral system and is based on the following criteria:

  • Strong sight test recovery in 2020
  • Strong emphasis on prioritising patients with vision and ocular health needs
  • Leadership in delivering exceptional patient outcomes
  • Collaborative engagement with medicine
  • Consistent feedback demonstrating the positive patient experience

The finalists represent the top four percent of all Specsavers stores across Australia and New Zealand. These stores have delivered consistently high standards of patient care across all key aspects of clinical practice during one of the most challenging periods the industry has faced.

A big congratulations to Hervey Bay and Queenstown stores.

More on the winning stores to follow.