19 July 2024

FODO member update - 19 July

This week:

• Action - Scotland workforce survey closes 24 July
• Cardiff University needs your help
• GOC research shows high level of public satisfaction
• College of Optometrists updates CMGs
• At a glance
• Health policy updates

Action - Scotland workforce survey closes 24 July

If you provide eye care in Scotland, please take part in this workforce survey to help Optometry Scotland understand the workforce better and advocate for primary eye care.  

Cardiff University needs your help

Cardiff University seeks your help hosting short practice placements for optometry undergraduates in their first, second and third years. Review this letter from Cardiff University. If you can help, please email [email protected] by 26 July. 

GOC research shows high level of public satisfaction

In the GOC's 2024 public perceptions research, 92% of survey respondents were satisfied with their optometrist and 88% with their overall visit.

However, the survey also showed that patients from an ethnic minority background were less satisfied than white participants (84% vs 91%), as were those with a disability (82% vs 89% of those without a disability). Similarly, 77% of patients with four or more vulnerability markers were satisfied with their overall visit compared to 94% with none.

The GOC reports that 63% of patients with four or more 'markers of vulnerability' had their sight tested in the last two years compared to 82% with none.

The survey results also revealed that 31% of respondents shopped around before choosing their opticians/optometrists, up from 21% in 2023. In 2023, 85% said they bought their optical appliance from where they had their sight test, versus 78% in 2024.

Again, the survey data shows that patients in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales were more likely than those in England to visit their optometrist if they had an eye care problem. The reason may be that all the countries other than England have nationally commissioned enhanced services.

Steve Brooker, director of regulatory strategy at the GOC, was pleased that "public satisfaction and trust levels remain high overall". However, he worried about the survey data's indication of variation in reported experiences "based on someone's background and life circumstances".  

View the full research report and infographics. 

College of Optometrists updates CMGs

The College of Optometrists has updated the following Clinical Management Guidelines (CMG):

• Dry eye disease 
• Facial nerve palsy 
• Nasolacrimal duct obstruction 

At a glance

• Royal College of Ophthalmologists reports that 63% of ophthalmology departments say it will take at least a year to clear their backlog, with 26% estimating it will take more than three years. College honorary secretary Mel Hingorani called for several interventions, including "better integration between primary care optometry and secondary eye care services". Read more.
• Ophthalmology department uses PIFU to help meet growing needs. Learn more.
• Review a free resource on evidence-based practice that the Sector Partnership for Optical Knowledge and Education created.
• The latest data from Wales shows there were 10,559 referrals to ophthalmology in May 2024.
• Support Vision Care for Homeless People. Learn about volunteer opportunities.
• Russell Peake, head of clinical performance at Specsavers, tells AOP's magazine that it plans to train people and provide more enhanced services. Read more.
• Moorfields and UCL report that biomarkers may help doctors understand how patients with glaucoma respond to treatment. Learn more.
• Moorfields Eye Charity pledges £1 million gift to Moorfields centre for advancing eye health.

Health policy updates

Terms of reference for the independent investigation of NHS performance in England sets out how the review:

• Aims to assess current performance and challenges
• "Should seek to shine a light on" health inequalities and unwarranted variation
• Should stimulate and support an "honest conversation with the public and staff" about improvements required. However, the review will take place quickly and, therefore, the government is "not envisaging wide-ranging public engagement"
• Will report in September 2024 and result in a new 10-year plan for the NHS.

Listen to an NHS Confederation podcast where Paul Corrigan, special adviser to the Department for Health and Social Care (17 mins 45 secs in), talks about the need for a short, medium and long-term approach to necessary changes to the NHS. He said he believed in the future of integrated care systems, but much more work was needed to make the new system work. He talks about the need for "innovation" in funding flows to support integration and release efficiencies.

A new research briefing shows that since 2010, the number of doctors in England has increased faster than any other NHS staff group. Over the same period, waiting lists for hospital treatment have increased from below 3 million on average (2010-2014) to more than 7.6 million in 2024.

The Independent Healthcare Providers Network (IHPN) said opinion polls showed that the Labour commitment to using spare capacity in the independent sector to tackle waiting lists was "one of the most popular policies", with 64% of people in favour. The IHPN has published a report which it says will help the government "build an NHS fit for the future". The IHPN's calls to action include supporting patient choice and ensuring that money follows the patient so the NHS does "not pay twice" because of block contracts.

The FODO policy team has analysed the King's Speech and will track and analyse legislation likely to affect members in the years ahead. To learn more about our policy work, please email [email protected].