199 Gloucester Terrace, London, W2 6LD
Tel 020 7298 5151 | Fax 020 7298 5111
info@fodo.com

What We Do and How We Work

FODO represents and supports members through five work programmes:

1. influencing government, policy-makers and opinion formers

2. articulating the views of companies, practitioners and staff

3. supporting members through services and solutions

4. promoting choice, quality and innovation

5. delivering through partnerships

1. We influence government, policy makers and opinion formers by

demonstrating an inclusive and united approach accross the optical sector
networking accross Whitehall and Westminster, with the Scottish Executive, Welsh Assembly Government and Northern Ireland Health Department, with the NHS Confederation and senior NHS managers, and with key non-governmental organisations and third sector partners
employing a public affairs adviser jointly with the Association of British Dispensing Opticians (ABDO) and the Association of Optometrists (AOP) to promote eye care in Parliament and with other stakeholders
seeking out, with our optical partners, opportunities to put the case for eye care at national level, e.g. in parliamentary debates, to select committees, at conferences and events, and by responding to all relevant consultations
publishing key data on optical services, e.g. Optics at a Glance and Vouchers at a Glance
promoting, supporting and producing authoritative statements, reports and discussion documents on eye care and the optical sector
inviting presentations from across and beyond eye care to promote debate and understanding, and promulgating the results to a wider audience
playing a full part, with our optical partners, in government reviews and initiatives affecting eye care
promoting corporate membership of Local Optical Committees (LOCs) and supporting LOCs with our optical partners

2. We articulate the views of companies, practitioners and staff by

championing issues which are better addressed collectively than individually
making sure those views are known where it matters
supporting the rights of highly trained professionals to practise independently and supervise others, subject to their personal competence, professional codes and ethics
promoting professional excellence through involvement in and support for education programmes
working with our optical partners, universities and training institutions to build rewarding career paths in eye care
working to balance workforce supply and demand
supporting the principles of continuing education and training, on-going professional development and life-long learning

3. We support members through services and solutions by

continuing to welcome new FODO members to maximise representation
providing best value personal indemnity insurance at the lowest cost and on a claims occuring basis
providing general and bespoke advice on VAT, business issues, employment, personnel and tax
drawing on high quality professional advice from field-leading legal, fiscal, HR, professional and public sector experts
influencing, signposting and issuing operational advice and guidance jointly with our optical partners, e.g. on such matters as CET claims, PCT listing arrangements and legislation, ensuring that we do not duplicate advice and guidance issued by others
negotiating for fairer fees and remuneration for ophthalmic services through the Optical Fees Review Committee

4. We promote choice, quality and innovation by

resisting all attempts to limit the freedom of patients to attend the optical practice of their choice
resisting all attempts to impose inappropriate or disproportionate regulation on practices, as this cost is ultimately borne by patients or the taxpayer
working to ensure a fair and level playing field for the commissioning of enhanced NHS services from optical practices
working through the Domiciliary Eyecare Committee to guarantee vulnerable citizens, particularly older people, the same access to services as everyone else
supporting the General Optical Council (GOC) in developing appropriate and proportionate professional regulation and expanding the scope of proessional practice
ensuring appropriate business input to General Optical Council understanding, policy and practice through the GOC Companies and other committees
supporting the Optical Consumer Complaints Service to ensure that the few customers who have complaints are offered fair and speedy redress

5. We deliver through partnerships by

working with our optical partners to take joint action wherever possible and to present a united voice for the profession
working with third sector and other strategic partners to promote eye health, eye care and regular sight testing
participating in the Eye Health Alliance, Eye Care UK, the Joint Optical Committee for the EU (JOCEU), the European Council of Optometry (ECOO) and the World Council of Optometry (WCO)
working with our optical partners through Optometry Scotland, Optometry Wales and Optometry Northern Ireland in those countries
working through our membership wherever possible and maintaining a minimal head office function in London and Glasgow

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What We Do and How We Work

FODO represents and supports members through five work programmes:

1. We influence government, policy makers and opinion formers by

demonstrating an inclusive and united approach accross the optical sector

networking accross Whitehall and Westminster, with the Scottish Executive, Welsh Assembly Government and Northern Ireland Health Department, with the NHS Confederation and senior NHS managers, and with key non-governmental organisations and third sector partners

employing a public affairs adviser jointly with the Association of British Dispensing Opticians (ABDO) and the Association of Optometrists (AOP) to promote eye care in Parliament and with other stakeholders

seeking out, with our optical partners, opportunities to put the case for eye care at national level, e.g. in parliamentary debates, to select committees, at conferences and events, and by responding to all relevant consultations

publishing key data on optical services, e.g. Optics at a Glance and Vouchers at a Glance

promoting, supporting and producing authoritative statements, reports and discussion documents on eye care and the optical sector

inviting presentations from across and beyond eye care to promote debate and understanding, and promulgating the results to a wider audience

playing a full part, with our optical partners, in government reviews and initiatives affecting eye care

promoting corporate membership of Local Optical Committees (LOCs) and supporting LOCs with our optical partners

2. We articulate the views of companies, practitioners and staff by

championing issues which are better addressed collectively than individually

making sure those views are known where it matters

supporting the rights of highly trained professionals to practise independently and supervise others, subject to their personal competence, professional codes and ethics

promoting professional excellence through involvement in and support for education programmes

working with our optical partners, universities and training institutions to build rewarding career paths in eye care

working to balance workforce supply and demand

supporting the principles of continuing education and training, on-going professional development and life-long learning

3. We support members through services and solutions by

continuing to welcome new FODO members to maximise representation

providing best value personal indemnity insurance at the lowest cost and on a claims occuring basis

providing general and bespoke advice on VAT, business issues, employment, personnel and tax

drawing on high quality professional advice from field-leading legal, fiscal, HR, professional and public sector experts

influencing, signposting and issuing operational advice and guidance jointly with our optical partners, e.g. on such matters as CET claims, PCT listing arrangements and legislation, ensuring that we do not duplicate advice and guidance issued by others

negotiating for fairer fees and remuneration for ophthalmic services through the Optical Fees Review Committee

4. We promote choice, quality and innovation by

resisting all attempts to limit the freedom of patients to attend the optical practice of their choice

resisting all attempts to impose inappropriate or disproportionate regulation on practices, as this cost is ultimately borne by patients or the taxpayer

working to ensure a fair and level playing field for the commissioning of enhanced NHS services from optical practices

working through the Domiciliary Eyecare Committee to guarantee vulnerable citizens, particularly older people, the same access to services as everyone else

supporting the General Optical Council (GOC) in developing appropriate and proportionate professional regulation and expanding the scope of proessional practice

ensuring appropriate business input to General Optical Council understanding, policy and practice through the GOC Companies and other committees

supporting the Optical Consumer Complaints Service to ensure that the few customers who have complaints are offered fair and speedy redress

5. We deliver through partnerships by

working with our optical partners to take joint action wherever possible and to present a united voice for the profession

working with third sector and other strategic partners to promote eye health, eye care and regular sight testing

participating in the Eye Health Alliance, Eye Care UK, the Joint Optical Committee for the EU (JOCEU), the European Council of Optometry (ECOO) and the World Council of Optometry (WCO)

working with our optical partners through Optometry Scotland, Optometry Wales and Optometry Northern Ireland in those countries

working through our membership wherever possible and maintaining a minimal head office function in London and Glasgow