04 December 2020

FODO’s Friday roundup of sector news – 4 December

This week:

1. Covid-19 vaccine
2. College updates Test and Trace FAQ
3. GOC shares recommendations on RQF levels for registration
4. Get involved - consultations
5. Other sector news

1. Covid-19 vaccine

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) approved the Pfizer/BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine this week.

All UK governments have now confirmed they will follow the independent advice received from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI).

The JCVI has recommended prioritising those with the greatest clinical need - including those aged over 80 and health and social care workers. Read the full JCVI report.

The Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine storage requirements and the need for two injections mean that the logistics of vaccine rollout are complicated, and it is likely to take some time for all healthcare workers to receive the vaccine. We are working with sector partners to ensure primary eye care is appropriately prioritised within the JCVI recommendations.

Optometrists and dispensing opticians, as healthcare professionals, can also play a role in the vaccination programmes:

• In Scotland, optometrists have an opportunity to support local health boards to deliver the vaccine on a sessional rate of £230 - read more in PCA 2020(O)20.
• In England, there should also be opportunities for paid roles as the Department of Health and Social Care recently changed the law to allow a wider range of healthcare professionals to undertake training to deliver vaccines. At this initial stage, the NHS has asked St John Ambulance to help coordinate the training and deployment of volunteers to support the delivery of vaccination services. Learn more. 

We will update you with more information as soon as possible. Meanwhile, if you have any questions, please get in touch [email protected].   

2. College updates Test and Trace FAQ

The College of Optometrists has updated its FAQs on what to do if you are contacted by Test and Trace or Test and Protect following a patient testing positive for Covid-19. Read the updated FAQs.  

3. GOC shares recommendations on RQF levels for registration

The GOC, ABDO, College of Optometrists and Opticians Academic Schools Council (OASC) co-commissioned the Quality Assurance Agency (QAA) to gather evidence and recommend entry-level qualifications approved by the GOC.

Using the Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF)/Framework for Higher Education Qualification (FHEQ) in England - and equivalent in Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales - the QAA has recommended setting this at level 7/11 for optometrists and 6/10 for dispensing opticians. Read more.  

4. Get involved - consultations

Skills for Health is working closely with the Scottish Qualifications Authority and Skills Development Scotland and sector on developing a Certificate in Optical Practice Support at SCQF level 7, which is a Competence-Based Qualification (CBQ). It would like to hear your thoughts on the content and structure of the current proposals. Learn more here and send your feedback (in Word) to [email protected] by noon on Tuesday 22 December.

The Royal College of Ophthalmologists (RCOphth) is consulting on new Cataract Workforce Guidance. The consultation follows work by the RCOphth cataract workforce group to quantify the demand for cataract surgery over the next 10 years and estimate the workforce required to meet this need. Access the Cataract Workforce Guidance Consultation. Feedback must be sent to [email protected] by 8 January 2021.  

5. Other sector news

ABDO, the College of Optometrists, GOC and NHS primary eye care leads across the UK have co-signed a letter thanking the profession for its work throughout the pandemic.

The General Optical Council (GOC) has launched 'FtP Focus', a new learning resource for registrants on its Fitness to Practise (FtP) process. The bulletin will be published quarterly and aims to provide insight into the types of concerns the GOC receives and how it assesses them at every stage of investigation. 

The College of Optometrists has published eye health tips for winter in its latest campaign to raise awareness about the importance of eye health and primary eye care in the UK.

Fight for Sight funded researchers have reported developing a new home test for glaucoma. The study involves testing a new device on a small sample of patients and is published in the American Journal of Ophthalmology.

DOCET has launched a new three-part course on cataract, with the first part now available online.