10 November 2023

FODO member update - 10 November

This week:

• Chief Medical Officer promotes importance of sight tests
• World's first eye transplant
• Gaps in sight loss research
• NHS England September 2023 waiting times for ophthalmology patients
• England - ophthalmic bulletin
• Cyber risk tops global risk management survey
• Other sector news
• Policy news 

Chief Medical Officer promotes importance of sight tests

Chief Medical Officer's annual report 2023 on health in an ageing society highlights the importance of taking sensory loss seriously. It adds that regular sight tests with an optometrist "ensures that any changes in vision can be detected and any eye health risks can be managed appropriately. Attending an eye test will also increase the likelihood of early diagnosis of any eye health problems".

Alan Tinger, FODO director, said: "We welcome this year's CMO report, which highlights the importance of eye and hearing care that members across the FODO Group provide to millions of people each year. It is an essential reminder of the important role members play in meeting population needs on a daily basis, including helping people to age well." 

World's first eye transplant

Ophthalmologists in New York have performed the world's first human eye transplant. While the procedure is experimental, and the recipient has not shown any signs yet of being able to see, surgeons report good blood flow to the retina. Read more. 

Gaps in sight loss research

Researchers at Anglia Ruskin University (ARU) and the University of Oxford have highlighted gaps in clinical research on vision loss in the working-age population.

They note that severe sight impairment (SSI) in working-age adults costs the UK economy £7.4 billion annually, yet eye conditions leading to SSI certifications in this group are less researched.

Lead author Dr Jasleen Jolly, associate professor in the Vision and Eye Research Institute (VERI) at ARU, said the findings highlight "the need to understand and address not only the leading causes of sight loss in the UK population as a whole but also to prioritise conditions that severely impact working-age individuals to reduce the health and socioeconomic impacts of sight loss". 

Read more.

NHS England September 2023 waiting times for ophthalmology patients

The latest NHS England monthly statistics reveal that nearly 641,000 ophthalmology patients were waiting to start treatment at the end of September. The data also shows that 406,219 ophthalmology patients (63.4%) were treated within 18 weeks and the average (median) waiting time was 12.6 weeks.

England - ophthalmic bulletin

Primary Care Support England has shared its latest update for GOS providers in England. It includes a reminder on previously announced administrative changes to GOS claims, ophthalmic user guide updates, the reference system for contacting PCSE about an existing case, tips on submitting a successful GOS claim, and how to deactivate leavers' access to PCSE Online. Read more.

Cyber risk tops global risk management survey

A global risk management survey of 3,000 business leaders shows that they rate cyber-attacks, business interruption, economic slowdown, workforce stability and regulatory uncertainty as the most significant risks their organisations face. The survey also shows that leaders expect cyber-risk to remain the main risk, with economic uncertainty as the second most likely risk by 2023. Explore the key findings.

Other sector news

• College Diploma Ceremony welcomes more than 460 new optometrists to the profession.
• GOC survey on searching the register. The GOC is running a survey to hear your views on what you search for on its register and why. Take part.
• Moorfields to start a new clinical trial exploring an anti-scarring agent to reduce risk of proliferative vitreoretinopathy in retinal detachment. Learn more.

Policy news

The King's Speech includes plans to update data protection regulations in the UK. The Data Protection and Digital Information Bill aims to help reduce "burdens on businesses (especially for SMEs)" while continuing to protect personal data.

Big pharma unites to promote ophthalmology through the Industry Vision Group (IVG), which has published a piece in OT explaining its work with patient groups and the Royal College of Ophthalmologists to create six recommendations for the NHS in England. This latest initiative supports longstanding calls by many organisations in the sector to improve the uptake of preventative eye care, improve IT connectivity and involve patients more in the care they receive. IVG also calls for an Eye Health Strategy now the King's Speech has passed and an Eye Health Care Bill has been ruled out in this parliament. The Roche-funded Eyes Have It Campaign will also host a Westminster Eye Health Day in December. Learn more.
 
King's Fund research outlines the inequalities in access that exist in England. The think tank calls on the NHS to act as health inequalities are predicted to worsen as waiting lists increase. The research also found people who live in the most deprived parts of England are much more likely to wait over a year for elective treatment than people who live in the most affluent areas.

The NHS in Wales is under pressure, with health minister Eluned Morgan calling on Health Boards to manage forecast overspend by finding £65 million in savings.

Specsavers attended this year's party conferences, where it promoted primary eye care and audiology services. Read more.