06 September 2024

FODO member update - 6 September

This week:

• National Eye Health Week (23-29 September 2024)
• Primary eye care to offer blood pressure
• Scottish Government cuts spending on eye care education
• Simon Rodwell retires as ACLM secretary general
• SightCare's CEO retires
• Sir Elton John reveals ‘limited vision' after eye infection
• Your invitation to shape the EDI Plan
• At a glance
• Health policy news

National Eye Health Week (23-29 September 2024)

This year's National Eye Health Week (NEHW) will spread the word about preventing avoidable sight loss and demonstrate the essential role of primary eye care professionals in improving public health.

Members can plan their communications around the week's daily themes using the hashtags #EyeWeek and #VisionMatters on their social media channels.

Register for a free resource pack or download materials from visionmatters.org.uk.

In addition, FODO will share direct links to resources with members, including our animations. 

Primary eye care to offer blood pressure checks

NHS England has announced a trial offering blood pressure checks in primary eye care practices to help find people at hidden risks of stroke or heart attacks. Nine integrated care boards across England will include optometry practices in the trial.
 
Andrew Gwynne, minister for public health and prevention, said: "By checking our health and getting help early on we can prevent serious conditions such as heart disease and stroke - which is why schemes like this, that make it easier and more convenient, are so important.
 
"This programme is an important step towards delivering community-focused healthcare, helping to shift the focus from treatment to prevention and helping people to live well for longer." 

Scottish Government cuts spending on eye care education

The College of Optometrists has confirmed that NHS Education for Scotland (NES) has withdrawn funding from Docet, meaning optometrists in Scotland can no longer use this previously pan-UK CPD platform. Read more. 

Simon Rodwell retires as ACLM secretary general

ACLM secretary general Simon Rodwell is retiring after 25 years of dedicated service to the UK contact lens industry, including steering it through Brexit, the Medical Device Regulation (MDR) and the Covid pandemic.
 
FODO CEO Harjit Sandhu said: "FODO has worked closely with the ACLM for many years. Working with Simon has always been a pleasure, and we value his collaborative spirit. We wish him a happy retirement." 
 
ACLM chairman Richard Smith will lead the organisation as it adapts to the industry's changing needs "while upholding the high standards set by Simon Rodwell's service". 

SightCare's CEO retires

SightCare's CEO, John French, has confirmed that he intends to retire in October. The FODO team wishes him all the best for the future.
 
We would also like to congratulate Emma Rawlings, who joins SightCare from the Somerset Chamber of Commerce. Emma will replace John as CEO after a short handover period. 

Sir Elton John reveals 'limited vision' after eye infection

Singer Sir Elton John has told his Instagram followers that he's "been dealing with a severe eye infection" that left him "with only limited vision in one eye".
 
Sir Elton, who retired from touring last year, thanked his doctors and nurses and his family for their care. He has spent the summer recuperating at home and is upbeat about his progress, although it is "extremely slow" and "will take some time before sight returns".
 
Read more. 

Your invitation to shape the EDI Plan

NHS England is offering people in clinical and non-clinical roles in primary care the chance to help shape the new Equality, Diversity and Improvement (EDI) Plan.
 
It invites colleagues to contribute to engagement sessions to discuss the work. Choose from three virtual dates to book a space:

• 17 September 2024, 10-11.30am
• 2 October 2024, 1-2.30pm
• 7 November 2024, 12-1.30pm

Please contact [email protected] with any questions. 

At a glance

• A College of Optometrists member survey shows that members use evidence-based resources regularly. The College survey found that more than 80% of its members refer to our Guidance for Professional Practice and nearly a third use Clinical Management Guidelines at least once a week, and that increases to almost two-thirds over a month.

• Louisa Wickham, national clinical director for eyecare at Moorfields Eye Hospital, has written a letter of support for the eye care support pathway, which FODO, ABDO, AOP and the Colleges have already endorsed.

• Royal College of Ophthalmologists announces it will launch a new scientific journal, Eye Open. The College now seeks an editor-in-chief. Learn more.

• Consultant ophthalmologist Dr Elizabeth Wilkinson has joined NHS England's Getting it Right First Time team. Read more.

• LOCSU CEO says LOCSU will focus on supporting LOCs. Watch the interview.

• Ophthalmology data for Wales shows that 158,258 patients were waiting for an outpatient appointment at the end of July, with less than 50% seen within the target date.

• The Annual Wales eyecare conference is now open to bookings. Learn more.

Health policy news

The Scottish Government will cut spending on health and care by £115.8 million as part of its in-year savings plan.

The Health Foundation survey finds private healthcare in the UK is not booming. It also indicates that only a minority of people say they are open to privately funding healthcare or already do so.  Meanwhile, the Joseph Rowntree Foundation says that its work with focus groups suggests that most Britons expect to pay for healthcare.