11 October 2024

FODO member update – 11 October

This week:

• NHS to offer eye and ear checks to autistic students at school
• World Sight Day raises importance of eye care
• New opportunities for optometrists
• Employment updates for HR leads
• At a glance
• Health policy

NHS to offer eye and ear checks to autistic students at school

NHS England has announced that children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities in residential special schools and colleges across England will be offered free NHS eyesight, hearing and dental checks. It hopes to roll out the programme from next year to cover England, following a pilot that reached 18,000 children and young people in 2022-23. 

World Sight Day raises importance of eye care

ABDO, The College of Optometrists and FODO welcomed World Sight Day on 10 October by celebrating world-class children's eye care in the UK.
 
ABDO also launched a level seven professional certificate in paediatric eyecare on the day. The new qualification will include evidence-based myopia management and successful candidates can use Prof Cert PE.
 
The College of Optometrists, which has led an initiative to promote child eye health, reiterated the importance of early diagnosis and support for children.
 
The Macular Society joined efforts to raise awareness of child eye health and myopia, warning that myopia is becoming a major global issue. The RNIB called on the government to prioritise eye health by developing a national eye care plan.
 
Meanwhile, the Royal College of Ophthalmologists celebrated the day by raising awareness of influential members. 

New opportunities for optometrists

The University of Huddersfield is looking for a university practitioner in optometry and a lecturer in optometry. If you are interested, you must apply by 10 November. You can also email programme lead John Siderov for informal enquiries: [email protected]  

Employment updates for HR leads

FODO members' HR teams should note the following:

• The government has published the Employment Rights Bill. The Bill starts the process of changing workers' rights across the UK. However, due to required consultations and further work, it will take several years before the changes take effect. FODO will analyse the Bill and keep members updated about developments. To play a more active role in this work, please email [email protected].

• As you will know, from 26 October employers must demonstrate they have taken a proactive approach to preventing sexual harassment in the workplace (read more). FODO's HR support partner WorkNest has produced detailed guidance on the new duty to aid compliance. It has also produced Risk Assessment - Preventing Sexual Harassment and Action Plan - Preventing Sexual Harassment. WorkNest will update member resources regarding this new duty by modifying the employee handbook in the practice owners' hub.

At a glance

• Royal College of Ophthalmologists has invited members to have their say on a new clinical guideline on idiopathic full thickness macular holes. Read more.
• Wales has published a report on the carbon footprint of primary care. It estimates that across 1,951 sites (of which 322 are primary eye care practices), scope 1 emissions were 12,663 tCO₂e and Scope 2 emissions were 16,479 tCO₂e.

Health policy

• This week, the House of Commons debated NHS performance: Darzi investigation with secretary of state for health and social care Wes Streeting repeating that the NHS was in a critical condition and the government remained committed to transforming services and delivering its three significant shifts - secondary to primary care, analogue to digital and sickness to prevention. The minister for secondary care, Karin Smyth, supported Mr Streeting. She backed the change in direction, stating the government would publish a 10-year plan to deliver these three big shifts and restore the NHS. 

• Adrian Ramsay, MP for the Green Party, asked the Department of Health and Social Care what assessment it had made about "the adequacy of optometry aftercare" following cataract and other surgeries, and the steps to be taken to ensure there is adequate aftercare available. Stephen Kinnock responded by stating that integrated care boards are responsible for commissioning ophthalmology services. He drew attention to NHS England's 2022 contract guidance on the requirements for post operative care.