31 March 2023

FODO member update - 31 March

This week:

• Welsh minister for health: Eye care reforms
• Ophthalmology workforce under pressure
• New podcast - Eye to Eye
• Artificial intelligence white paper
• Other sector news
• Health policy updates
• Bank holiday opening hours 

Welsh minister for health: Eye care reforms

Further to our Wales update last week, this week, the minister for health and social services, Eluned Morgan, speaking about primary care, recognised that the demand for primary care services outstrips capacity in Wales. She said budgets were "stretched", but the goal remained for primary care professionals to work together to meet needs.

She added:

• To strengthen the voice of primary care, the Welsh Government (WG) has established professional collaboratives for GPs, nurses, pharmacists, and optometrists over recent months.
• In optometry, WG is "already expanding clinically focused provision in primary care by moving the delivery of some eye-care services from hospitals to the community, where there is a skilled workforce with the capacity to meet increasing demand".
• Rolling out some services was already under way by "utilising optometrists with higher qualifications, such as independent prescribing, glaucoma and medical retina,using existing legislative directions".

 
Have you heard about these changes where you practise in Wales? Share your experience by emailing [email protected]. If you have not heard about any of the proposed changes, which will affect your practice and business, please contact your ROC or [email protected].
 
On GOS reform, the minister explained that "before some aspects of the reform can come into force, some changes will need to be made to regulations" and that WG will be "consulting on those proposals". FODO is awaiting further information about the next steps. 

Ophthalmology workforce under pressure

The Royal College of Ophthalmologists (RCOphth) has published its latest workforce census. It said its latest data highlights "the scale of staff shortages in NHS ophthalmology services and how they will continue to worsen over the coming years without immediate action".
 
It reported that 76% of NHS ophthalmology services face significant capacity pressures and do "not have enough consultants to meet current patient demand". The College added that 74% of eye care units are more concerned about delays in outpatient care now than they were 12 months ago.
 
RCOphth has called for more investment in eye care services, including more ophthalmology training places and investment in multidisciplinary team working.
 
David Hewlett, FODO director, said: "The NHS systems in the UK are unique in having large primary care sectors - GPs, optometrists, etc., - as gatekeepers to hospital services. That is why there are 24 optometrists per 100,000 population, compared with four ophthalmologists. Primary eye care has the largest qualified eye care workforce in the UK, so it can help colleagues in secondary care respond to system pressures. More importantly, by working together, we can prevent avoidable sight loss from delays in hospital care."

Read the full report. 

New podcast - Eye to Eye

The Royal College has launched the first episode of its new Eye to Eye podcast. This episode explores research into laser pointer retinal injuries and research analysing prescribing trends in glaucoma. Listen now. 

Artificial intelligence white paper

The government is consulting on its white paper on AI regulation. FODO will analyse this consultation on members' behalf and work with sector partners in formulating a response. If you want to get involved in this work, please email [email protected]. 

Other sector news

• Changes at the LOCSU Board
• GOC survey - help the GOC improve customer service
• MyGOC will undergo maintenance from 9am on 3 April to 5pm on 12 April
• UK Ophthalmology Alliance launches 2023 member survey
• UK Ophthalmology Alliance seeks new chair. Learn more and apply

Health policy updates

The British Social Attitudes (BSA) survey shows satisfaction with the NHS now stands at a record low of 29% - the lowest since the BSA survey started in 1983. It reports 51% of respondents "were dissatisfied with the NHS". Read NHS England's response and Healthwatch England's response.
 
The Health and Social Care Select Committee has published its report on Integrated Care Systems: autonomy and accountability. All primary care called for a voice within ICBs/ICSs. The report notes the "DHSC should gather information relating to the membership of ICBs and then review to understand whether further mandating is required". FODO will continue to track the evolution of ICSs, ICBs, and ICPs to ensure the voice of primary eye care gets heard.
 
NHS England has published the outcome of its 2023/25 payment scheme consultation. The new payment system will begin on 1 April 2023 but does not affect core primary care services (e.g.  GOS). Members who provide NHS enhanced eye care services should not notice major changes as local pricing rules will continue to apply. The unknowns at this stage are the impacts across the system as all Trusts move towards the Aligned Payment Incentive (API) model while demand grows and funding is squeezed further. FODO will continue to analyse these effects on members' behalf.
 
In Scotland, the newly appointed cabinet secretary for NHS recovery, health and social care, Michael Matheson, will be supported by Maree Todd and Jenni Minto across his health and social care portfolios. Read more.
 
Last week, FODO responded to the GOC's response to the consultation on the Opticians Act. You can now read the ABDO, AOP and College responses.

Bank holiday opening hours 

The FODO office will be closed over the bank holiday weekend and reopens at 9am on Tuesday, 11 April. Members can still access out-of-hours support on Friday and Monday by emailing [email protected].
 
The next scheduled member update will be on 14 April unless any urgent updates are necessary.