28 June 2024

FODO member update - 28 June

This week:

• Eye care election themes emerge
• Support Optometry Scotland workforce survey
• Scottish Community Glaucoma Service (CGS)
• King's College trials novel eye treatment
• GOC Council roundup
• At a glance

Eye care election themes emerge

The sector-wide consensus is clear - the next government must invest more in primary eye care to help prevent avoidable sight loss. It should invest in enhanced services, IT connectivity and the workforce.

• FODO set out the case to transform eye care in the Future of primary eye care in March 2023 and this year in its election priorities in May, position statements and animation.

• The College of Optometrists published its manifesto to end the eye care crisis, highlighting the urgent need for action.  

• ABDO told the Optician it backed these goals and wanted to see the incoming government also deliver on eye care reforms in specials. 

• The Roche-funded Eyes Have It initiative, including the AOP and other sector bodies, published its vision for the future of eye health in England last year. This week, in addition to The Eyes Have It partnership, the AOP published its call to action, reiterating sector-wide messaging. The AOP CEO also wrote a blog. 

• Specsavers' manifesto calls on the Government to improve access to eye care services closer to home. 

• The Royal College of Ophthalmologists shares similar priorities with optical sector bodies and calls for increased investment in training more ophthalmologists.

Harjit Sandhu, managing director at FODO, said: "It is great to see all sector bodies calling on the next government to rebalance expenditure to invest more in primary eye care. Our shared goal is to help prevent sight loss due to delays in care. Transforming eye care will reduce pressure on GPs and hospital colleagues. These new models of care will also be more cost-effective. A win-win for all."
 
He added: "Working together, with a united voice to fight for patients' right to sight, is the only way to achieve our shared vision of preventing all avoidable cases of sight loss. FODO will continue to work with ABDO, AOP, the Colleges, LOCSU and all other sector partners to make change happen." 
 
FODO has invited its members to help shape the future of eye care by participating in its work on IT connectivity and enhanced primary eye care services. Complete this survey by 5 July. 

Support Optometry Scotland workforce survey

FODO Scotland asks members to take part in this workforce survey to help Optometry Scotland better understand the workforce and advocate for primary eye care. 

Scottish Community Glaucoma Service (CGS)

The Scottish Government has published an update on CGS, including progress updates on the CGS and NESGAT training rollout and specific dates. We encourage all members in Scotland interested in providing glaucoma care to read the latest PCA in full to avoid missing deadlines. 

King's College trials novel eye treatment

Researchers at King's College London have used a custom-built robot to administer a radiation dose to treat wet AMD. The goal is to reduce the number of injections people subsequently need to manage the condition. The Society of Radiographers reports that most people require injections every three months at a cost of between £500 and £800 and that this new treatment regime could save £565 over two years per patient. Read more. 

GOC Council roundup

Highlights from the GOC Council meeting this month:

• Optical Consumer Complaints Service's (OCCS) Annual Report for 2023-24 published. The report notes a 3% increase in complaints (1,757 in 2023-24 with 1,705 received in 2022-23) and with 81 concerns referred from the GOC, and 6 referred to the GOC.
• Registrant income hit £10.8 million, against costs of £11.4 million.

Read more. 

At a glance

• £2.1 million for Liverpool researchers to develop a new eye bandage. Learn more.
• Deafblind UK chief executive calls on new government to do more to help people with sensory loss. Read more.
• PCSE - eGOS claim query improvements now live. Read more.
• LOCSU celebrates inaugural chair conference. Learn more.
• Guide Dogs launches new Tech Selector.
• BBC reports on a mother of three who is encouraging more people to have regular sight tests after it helped her get an urgent referral to hospital where they discovered she had cancer.