13 January 2023

FODO member update – 13 January

This week:

• Proposed FODO name change - Member feedback welcome
• January is Glaucoma Awareness Month
• College update: IPC guidance for care home settings in England
• Free personal protective equipment (PPE) scheme
• Wales - claim CET and pre-registration grants
• Other sector news
• Policy updates

Proposed FODO name change - Member feedback welcome

The Federation of Ophthalmic and Dispensing Opticians (FODO) is consulting members on updating its name.

The proposal is to:

• Rename the organisation the Federation of Optometrists and Dispensing Opticians (FODO)
• Maintain the strapline The Association for Eye Care Providers.

FODO has always been a federation of eye care providers, but this proposed refresh aims to modernise and strengthen the message.

We would welcome members' views on the proposal by 28 February. If you have feedback or suggestions, please email [email protected]. 

January is Glaucoma Awareness Month

Organisations across the globe are increasing awareness of glaucoma this January as they mark Glaucoma Awareness Month. They include the NIH, which provides open-source material to share, and All About Vision, which informs the general public about glaucoma.

If you are raising awareness about glaucoma care in England, you can also share these LOCSU resources with local ICBs. 

College update: IPC guidance for care home settings in England

The College of Optometrists has shared updated guidance on using face masks in care homes in England. It says you can "now make risk-based decisions on when face masks are used" and that "care homes can initiate their own outbreak risk assessments to make decisions about which outbreak measures make sense for their individual settings". Read the College update. 

Free personal protective equipment (PPE) scheme

Primary eye care providers in England can continue accessing free PPE for coronavirus infection control until 31 March 2024 or until the Department of Health and Social Care's stocks are depleted. Read more about the extension and the free PPE scheme. 

Wales - claim CET and pre-registration grants

Members in Wales can now claim their CET and pre-registration grants. Please note the CET grant is £596 and must be claimed by 12 March 2023. Read more and claim. 

Other sector news

• Fight for Sight and Vision Foundation are to merge. The organisations will work as one from 1 April 2023. Read more.

• SightCare is holding its postponed 2022 conference on 29 and 30 January 2023 at the Telford International Centre. Learn more.

• In Wales, at the end of November, 135,308 patient pathways where the patient was assessed as Health Risk Factor R1 were waiting for an outpatient appointment. Access eye care measures for NHS outpatients.

• Nominations for College of Optometrists Council elections are now open. Learn more and apply by noon on 17 February.

• Applications are now open for the Scotland Level 5 and 7 Certificates in Optical Care. Both courses receive funding from NES Optometry, so employers contribute £200 (Level 5) or £250 (level 7) per person. Places are limited and on a first-come-first-served basis to any practice or hospital in Scotland. Learn more and apply.

• ECOO has published new Environmental sustainability guidance.

• GOC commissions SPOKE to establish a Knowledge Hub. Read more.

Policy updates

PM promises to reduce NHS waiting lists

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has made tackling NHS waiting lists in England one of his five priorities for 2023. He said the government would:

• "Always protect the founding principle of an NHS free at the point of use"
• Deliver "an NHS where patients are in control, with as much choice as possible"
• Be "comfortable with the NHS using more independent capacity - if that's what it takes to get patients quicker and better care".

He added that "unwarranted variation in performance between trusts" would no longer be acceptable because "high quality healthcare should be there for you wherever you live".
Read the full speech.
 
PMQs. Marsha De Cordova asked if the Prime Minister would back her Bill calling for a National Eye Health Strategy. Mr Sunak said the Minister for Health would speak to Ms Cordova on this issue in due course.

MHRA webinar. There is still time to register for the Medical Devices Regulations webinar on 24January 10am-11.30am. This will cover regulation development and transitional arrangement timelines.
The Scottish Government has announced record spending of £19b on health and social care. It said this would continue to support prevention and early intervention and provide quality community care. The investment means Health Boards in Scotland will see funding increase by 6%.
 
Patients report avoiding NHS appointments due to cost-of-living pressures. Healthwatch has published data showing people are avoiding accessing care due to the cost-of-living crisis. It has called on the government and health and care services to tackle barriers to accessing healthcare. Read more.
 
FODO has responded to the Hewitt call for evidence on new Integrated Care Systems in England. Our response explains the value of the three-tiered framework for NHS primary care services in England, including a national sight test model and locally enhanced services.