26 July 2024

FODO member update - 26 July

This week:

• Action for members in Scotland - surveys
• Action for members in Wales - practice placements
• Fairer and more inclusive eye services
• IT updates at FODO - no newsletter 2 August
• At a glance
• Policy news

Action for members in Scotland - surveys

Optometry Scotland (OS) asks providers and practitioners in Scotland to participate in a survey about the value of Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) technology in enhanced community eyecare services. It will present the research to the Scottish Government and hopes to secure funding to undertake OCT as part of enhanced community optometry services. Learn more and take part in the OCT survey. 

OS has also extended the deadline to participate in its workforce survey, which will close on 7 August.  

Action for members in Wales - practice placements

The NHS in Wales is keen to hear expressions of interest from practices that can offer placements for higher qualifications in independent prescribing and/or a higher certificate in glaucoma. Complete this short form if you can help. 

Fairer and more inclusive eye services

Steve Brooker, director of regulatory affairs at the GOC, has said the GOC's draft corporate strategy 2025-30 includes an objective of creating fairer and more inclusive eye care services. In his blog, he says this follows a recent public perception survey, which shows that while public satisfaction with primary eye care services remains high, "the benefits have not been equally shared among different sections of the population". Read more. 

IT updates at FODO - no newsletter 2 August

We are updating our IT systems next week to integrate our CRM with our newsletter platform. So, there will be no routine newsletter on 2 August. You'll receive the next newsletter on 9 August. We will, of course, send any urgent communications to members as needed. 

At a glance

• Optometry Scotland is looking for independent practice members to represent it across three regions of Scotland. Learn more and apply.
• Free CPD. The Retina UK Professionals' conference will occur on 27 September 2024 in Manchester and online. It is free to attend. Learn more.
• Mattel has launched its first blind Barbie, which carries a cane. It aims to make its range more inclusive. Read more.
• RNIB has published its 2024-27 strategy.
• DWP is to expand support for people with eye conditions like macular degeneration. Read more.
• Radio 4 In Touch covers the latest glaucoma research and the role of AI in eye care. Listen now.
• Royal College shares its views on the GMC's 2024 national training survey. Read more.

Policy news

• The Scottish Government says it has invested £2 million to help tackle the ophthalmology backlog. Read more.

• The Welsh Labour Party has announced Eluned Morgan as its new leader, and she will later become the First Minister of Wales. Baroness Morgan was previously minister for health and social services and oversaw recent WGOS reforms.

• Current thinking is that the Darzi review of the NHS will happen rapidly and publish its outcomes in September, followed by a public consultation on a 10 year plan. The HSJ now says the final 10-year health plan is expected to be published in Spring 2025.

• The prime minister has appointed Tom Webb the lead special adviser for health and care in Number 10, according to the HSJ. Tom was previously Labour's director of policy and research.

• Amanda Pritchard, NHS England CEO, has said NHS England supports the government goals of shifting more care out of hospital and into primary care, better use of digital technology and more focus on prevention.

• The National Audit Office (NAO) has published its ninth report on the financial management of the NHS in England. The NAO states that to ensure "lasting stability", NHS England must "engage in financial restructuring". It adds that there is a "growing mismatch between demand for NHS services and the funding the NHS will receive. Either much future demand for healthcare must be avoided, or the NHS will need a great deal more funding, or service levels will continue to be unacceptable and may even deteriorate further".

• Wes Streeting said today that the Care Quality Commission (CQC) was "not fit for purpose". Read more.

• The AOP CEO and Royal College of Ophthalmologists have written letters to ministers to reiterate sector-wide calls to move more care closer to home. AOP CEO Adam Sampson has also written a new blog reflecting on difficulties in measuring policy impacts and his views on why Wes Streeting keeps naming Specsavers.

• Meanwhile, in Westminster this week, Marsha De Cordova asked the secretary of state if he would meet her to discuss the eye healthcare emergency. Wes Streeting accepted the invitation. He told the House of Commons that he visited Specsavers during the election campaign and said: "There are lots of high street opticians, and they can make a real difference to cutting the backlog. The Conservatives should have gone to Specsavers, and this government will."

If you have questions about this week's update, please email [email protected].