17 May 2024

FODO member update - 17 May

This week:

• FODO Group AGM
• GOC CPD exceptions policy
• College issues new information and guidance - whooping cough
• Roger Pope obituary
• At a glance
• Health policy

FODO Group AGM

The FODO Group, encompassing FODO, FODO Ireland, and the NCHA, held its AGM on 15 May 2024. Read the AGM press release and annual report. 

GOC CPD exceptions policy

The GOC has shared its latest exceptions policy. It sets out how it will ensure a fair process when deciding whether a registrant can remain on the register if they fail to meet CPD requirements. The main updates include:

• Formal change to the scheme's title from CET to CPD
• Reference to ill health in paragraph 4.2
• Additional paragraph 4.3.3 on personal development plan requirements, to which all GOC registrants should pay particular attention
• New paragraph 6.5 welcoming correspondence in Welsh

The next policy review date is January 2027.

College issues new information and guidance - whooping cough

The College of Optometrists has published information and guidance on pertussis (whooping cough), including IPC advice on reducing the risk of transmission. Read more. 

Roger Pope obituary

It is with great regret that FODO learned of the very sad death of long-standing FODO member Roger Pope last month. FODO pays tribute to Roger Pope - optician to royalty. 

At a glance

• Latest ophthalmology national waiting data in Wales shows that 48.6% of patients assessed as at risk of irreversible harm or significant adverse outcome (Health Risk Factor R1) were waiting within their target date. Local data shows a range between 40% and 86.1% across Wales.
• Royal College of Ophthalmologists has published a 'policy roundup' sharing its political and public affairs activities. The College reports one of its highlights was to hear the Labour party confirm its commitment to "turbocharge access to ophthalmology services via a reform to the optometry contract that would enable optometrists to deliver more outpatient appointments".
• People with sight loss to benefit from a new screening service for bowel cancer. Read more.
• NHS launches tool to improve bowel cancer screening for people with sight loss. Read more.
• The World Health Organization has launched a new initiative, SPECS 2030, to help tackle uncorrected refractive error.
• Scientists propose genetic basis for neurodegenerative disorders that affect vision. Read more.
• LOCSU has launched its 2024-25 plan. It sets out LOCSU's commitment to put LOCs front and centre of everything it does. Read more.
• ECOO publishes a review of its spring meetings and General Assembly. Read more.
• Kevin Gutsell, FBDO (Hons) SLD, has become the new president of ABDO. 
• The AOP has welcomed new council members. Read more.

Health policy

The government has announced its intention to expand patient choice in England to bring down waiting lists. Rishi Sunak, the prime minister, said: "Today's announcement represents the largest expansion of choice in the NHS in a decade", adding that this would include NHS hearing care and "help [to] speed up treatment, improve the quality of care and ensure that patients have more choice over where they receive treatment".
 
While discussing security risks on 13 May, the prime minister also said that technology would bring major benefits, including: "New frontiers in medical diagnostics where a single picture of your eyes cannot only detect blindness but predict other diseases like heart attacks or Parkinson's".
 
As the government plans to pilot extending patient choice, the HSJ reports that NHS England will simultaneously challenge ICBs that restrict patient choice. The decision follows concerns raised by the Independent Patient Choice and Procurement Panel about potential restrictions to patient choice locally - e.g. via referral management centres, which NHS trusts might run and require a further review of conflicts of interest.
 
In a pre-election briefing, the IFS reports that real-term spending on health has grown by 2.4% in this parliament versus 3.6% over the longer term. However, health spending has been prioritised over time, rising from a 26% share of the all-departmental total in 1998-99 to 43% in 2022-23. Read more.
 
The HCPC, which regulates orthoptists and audiologists (hearing aid dispensers and clinical scientists), has reviewed the benefits and risks associated with advanced practice and any implications for all the professions it regulates. The review engaged around 4,000 stakeholders and included research by the University of Bradford and Community Research.
 
The HCPC found that "risks were not shown to be unique to advanced practice and there was no evidence that these risks could be addressed by additional regulation". It said: "Any decision around additional regulation should be proportionate to the risk to public and to service user safety", and, as registrants are already required to meet CPD requirements linked to their scope of practice, working outside this is already subject to fitness to practise processes. Therefore, the HCPC concluded, "the case for additional regulation of advanced practice had not been made". Read more.
 
Pharmacists close at record rate. The NPA has warned about "skyrocketing" levels of closures this year. It reports that 177 pharmacies closed between January and April 2024, compared to 116 in the same period last year. It said that 1,400 pharmacies had closed since 2017.
 
Meanwhile, GPs in England have voted to launch a ballot for collective action after the BMA entered a dispute with NHS England over the 2024/25 GMS contract changes. Read more.
 
GPs have also signalled concerns that advice and guidance (A&G) initiatives might be used to "replace" direct GP referrals. The BMA reportedly told LMCs that NHS England is attempting to merge A&G with referrals into a new 'advice and refer' model, which could create "medicolegal jeopardy" if patients "fall through the cracks". Read more.