25 October 2024

FODO member update – 25 October

This week:

• FODO CPD - pathology in practice case studies
• GOC consultation on business regulation
• FODO ready to respond to 10 Year NHS Plan
• Independents top Which? optician ranking
• New Welsh National Clinical Strategy for Ophthalmology
• College influences government to act on major vision issue
• Reminder - PCSE system downtime this weekend
• At a glance
• Policy updates

FODO CPD - pathology in practice case studies

FODO is working in partnership with CPDpoints.com to offer CPD. The first CPD course covers common pathology in practice. This CPD is free for all GOC registrants, so please pass on the link to your teams and colleagues.

In addition, FODO is working in partnership with Optom Academy and will shortly launch a training video so members can best use self-direct CPD.

Please note that optometrists in England, Northern Ireland and Wales can also access free CPD using Docet. The College of Optometrists manages Docet and has published a list of interactive courses offering more than 20 interactive points.   

GOC consultation on business regulation

The GOC launched its consultation on business regulation one week earlier than planned. It will now run from 23 October 2024 to 22 January 2025. Watch this short presentation on GOC plans.

Thank you to all members who volunteered to take part in FODO's response to this consultation following our 4 October update. FODO will continue to work with members to respond to this GOC consultation. If you would like to participate in our work, please email [email protected].

To respond directly to the consultation, use the GOC online consultation platform or email [email protected]

FODO ready to respond to 10 Year NHS Plan

The government has launched a consultation on its 10 Year Health Plan to fix the NHS in England. Organisations that intend to respond must do so by 2 December at 5pm.

In a statement, the Department of Health and Social Care states that feedback to this consultation "will shape government's 10 Year Health Plan to fix broken health service and deliver government mission to build an NHS fit for the future".

FODO members deliver over 80% of all NHS primary eye care services in England and are well-placed to contribute to this essential national discussion on the future of the NHS.

FODO has already co-created a vision for the future of primary eye care with members, and members have also participated in our survey in June this year about enhanced primary eye care services. If you want to help shape FODO's response, please complete this survey by 18 November. We will then use all member feedback to date to shape our submission to this crucial NHS consultation.

Members can also reply directly on the Change NHS online platform. You can email [email protected] if you need support with this.

FODO will also work with sector partners to show the government we are speaking with a united voice across eye care on behalf of all patients, professions and providers.

Independents top Which? optician ranking

The consumer magazine Which? surveyed more than 10,000 people who had sight tests or bought vision correction in the last two years. The survey covered various issues, including customer service, product quality and value for money. All brands in the survey scored above 70% for overall customer satisfaction, but the independent category scored 88%, followed closely by several national opticians. Which? Subscribers can access the full survey results.

New Welsh National Clinical Strategy for Ophthalmology

NHS Wales has now published its National Clinical Strategy for Ophthalmology. The Royal College of Ophthalmologists has welcomed the publication, setting out 10 key takeaways and how elements of the strategy might be adapted across the UK.

College influences government to act on major vision issue

The College of Optometrists, the RAC and Baroness Hayter have successfully influenced the government to commission research into the impact of headlight glare on drivers. The College has led on this issue on behalf of the optical sector, including commissioning research, which found 76% of drivers reported a problem with night-time headlight glare. Read more.

Reminder - PCSE system downtime this weekend

We remind members in England that PCSE Online will be unavailable during the following periods this weekend as a part of PCSE's annual disaster recovery testing programme:

• From 6pm on Friday to 9am on Saturday 26 October
• From 6am to 12pm on 27 October

Read more.

At a glance

• GOC seeks a registrant to join its Council. It pays an annual fee of £13,962 to Council members for approximately two to three days a month. The GOC is encouraging candidates from diverse backgrounds to apply. Alistair Bridge, ABDO CEO, also encourages DOs to apply. Read more.
• Independent opticians that use SightCare can now explore introducing a primary care audiology service alongside primary eye care. SightCare says a network of independent audiologists will offer the new service. Learn more.
• AI model as effective as ophthalmologists at analysing images of corneal infections. Read more.

Policy updates

• The Health Foundation and the Institute for Governmenthave written a joint letter to the Chancellor to urge spending on prevention. The letter calls out the gap between government rhetoric on prevention and actual delivery and asks this new government to consider ring-fencing funds for prevention.

• The government has announced its plans to change data laws to "improve public services and boost the UK economy by £10 billion". The government believes that this also has the potential to free up 140,000 NHS staff hours every year. It hopes that NHS trusts, GP surgeries and ambulance services can easily access all healthcare information (e.g. pre-existing conditions, appointments and tests) without needing a standard IT system. The ICO has welcomed the news and plans to publish its response to the bill shortly.

• Deirdre Costigan MP asked the government what steps it was taking to improve access to optometry services for rough sleepers who are not eligible for full public funding due to their immigration status. Responding, Stephen Kinnock said specific refugees and asylum seekers could apply for help with sight test and glasses costs through the NHS low-income scheme. Moreover, NHS England is working to ensure that having no fixed abode doesn't prevent access to sight tests. NICE guidance provides recommendations on improving access to and engagement with health and social care services for people experiencing homelessness. Some services like A&E are free for all patients regardless of immigration status.

• The government is consulting on a modern framework for industrial relations, zero-hour contracts and collective redundancy and fire and rehire. FODO will analyse all of these consultations on members' behalf. Please email [email protected] if you are interested in an area and would like to get involved.

• NHS announces major crackdown on waste. The NHS has published a new strategy for cutting the number of single-use medical devices in the health service.