Community Forum
Request Access to The Clinical Exchange
SCAN, the Specialist Clinical Access Network, connects optometrists, ophthalmologists, and practice owners in a credential-verified, independent community. Free access to the Water Cooler, encrypted peer-to-peer messaging, and Locum/Pre-Reg Exchange. Full membership is £5/month for CPD, podcasts, and business skills training, the cost of a cup of coffee.
Membership
Two ways in, one clinically safe room
Free Tier
£0 /month
Essential community access
- Water Cooler access
- Encrypted peer-to-peer messaging
- Locum / Pre-Reg Exchange
- Qualified Overseas Optometrists / Ophthalmologists
To work in the UK as an internationally qualified optometrist, you must first secure credential evaluation or registration via the General Optical Council (GOC), and obtain a sponsored visa, typically a Health and Care Worker visa or a Temporary Work (Government Authorised Exchange) visa for pre-registration.
Full Membership
£5 /month
The cost of a cup of coffee
- CPD (Continuing Professional Development)
- Podcasts
- Business skills training
Why SCAN
Independent. Verified. Already live.
Registration includes verification. Not another open social feed.
Runs on NeedAnOptom’s existing Clinical Exchange, already operating today.
Not run by AOP or GOC. Built for clinicians, by clinicians.
Get started
Request access
Questions
Before you request access
Is there enough activity yet?
The Clinical Exchange is live today, built on NeedAnOptom’s existing forum infrastructure. SCAN is the next layer on top of a community that’s already running.
I already have WhatsApp/Facebook groups.
Those aren’t credential-verified, and conversations get lost fast. SCAN is a clinically safe, independent space built specifically for eye-care professionals.
What exactly do I get for £5/month?
CPD, podcasts, and business skills training, on top of everything in the free tier, including Water Cooler access and encrypted peer-to-peer messaging.
I don’t have time for another platform.
The Water Cooler and Locum/Pre-Reg Exchange are free, low-pressure ways to dip in when useful, not another daily obligation.
Is this actually independent?
Yes. SCAN isn’t run by the AOP or GOC. It’s built by NeedAnOptom, for the profession.