23 June 2023

FODO member update – 23 June

This week:

• Response to consultation on eye care reforms in Wales
• Free sight tests for special schools
• DVLA updates list of notifiable conditions
• Oxford University spin-out raises £96m
• Other news
• Policy news

Response to consultation on eye care reforms in Wales

Following our member update last week, FODO has formally responded to the Welsh Government (WG) consultation on primary eye care reforms.
 
We have shared that you strongly support WG plans to provide more care closer to home and stand ready to help deliver this successfully on behalf of the patients we all serve in Wales.
 
We have also welcomed WG's recognition that the optimal option for meeting eye health needs is to expand access to primary eye care services, and its commitment to increase spending on primary eye care services by £30 million a year by 2024-2025. As set out in Principles and priorities for primary eye care, FODO members and WG clearly share many goals, including tackling the risk of sight loss due to delays in accessing hospital services.
 
While there was strong support for most proposals, members also shared significant concerns. Therefore, we have also shared your feedback about the impacts on patients if changes to patient benefits and domiciliary eye care proceed without revision. ABDO, AOP, The College of Optometrists and Optometry Wales have also shared similar feedback.  

Read FODO's response to WG. 

Free sight tests for special schools

The Department of Health and Social Care and NHS England have announced that the NHS will progress the commitment in the Long Term Plan to make bespoke sight testing and dispensing services available to children and young people with learning disabilities and/or autism attending special residential schools. Read more. 

DVLA updates list of notifiable conditions

The DVLA has revised its list of notifiable conditions for drivers in the UK. The change includes reducing the list of notifiable ocular conditions, which drivers must declare. Read more. 

Oxford University spin-out raises £96m

The University of Oxford has announced the creation of a new biotech company to help improve vision for patients with retinal diseases. The company has raised £96 million, making it the biggest launch of any Oxford spin-out. Read more. 

Other news

The GOC has an opportunity for an optometrist to join its investigation committee. Read more and apply.
 
BIOS launches orthoptic support workforce hub. Learn more.
 
Clarification: We updated members on the ACLM Contact Lens Year Book last week. Please note that the book will no longer be printed, so there is no 2023 version. Current subscribers can continue to access the same information online. The ACLM is also updating its online system, which will make it easier for all practitioners and students to access it free of charge in future. We will update you when the new version is live. 

Policy news

NHS mandate published

The Department of Health and Social Care has published the government's 2023 mandate to NHS England. The mandate sets out the objectives NHS England should achieve, including:

• Reiterating that NHS England should be at least 30% and up to 40% smaller by April 2024
• Stating NHS England must focus on reducing waiting times and improving access to primary care
• Pushing for the continued shift towards community-based healthcare, including 'local pathways for direct referral'
• ICBs and NHS England needing to engage with patients, carers and the public regarding clinical and wider commissioning decisions
• The need to build on existing patient rights to choice of provider (i.e. as per NHS Constitution)
• The NHS should make cash releasing efficiency savings of at least 2.2% in 2023/2024.

The Procurement Bill

The government is consulting on draft regulations to implement the Procurement Bill. The consultation includes proposals to disapply the Procurement Act regarding the procurement of healthcare services by bodies that are in the scope of the forthcoming NHS healthcare procurement regulations (the Provider Selection Regime (PSR) regulations). FODO will review the consultation on members' behalf and respond if necessary.
 
NHS England appoints chief information officer
 
NHS England has appointed John Quinn as its new chief information officer to oversee digital technology across the health service. Read more.
 
New primary care doctors
 
The BMA has advised the NHS not to rush proposals for the 'new primary care doctor role'. It said it does not believe general practice has 'the staff, financial or premises resources to accommodate an intake of "primary care doctors", nor do we believe that the proposals are being designed to benefit doctors who want to make the switch into primary care'. Read more.
 
Persistent inflation
 
The Bank of England has increased interest rates to 5%. It also reported that 12-month Consumer Prices Index (CPI) inflation fell from 10.1% to 8.7% but expected it to drop significantly this year. Read more.