Updated guidance published today by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), ‘Glaucoma diagnosis and management’, clarifies the role optometrists can play in the diagnosis and management of glaucoma patients. Welcoming the new guidance, FODO Chief Executive, David Hewlett, said: “This updated guideline is extremely helpful. The updated
Archive for 2017
New cataracts guidance for the NHS will improve patient care
FODO welcomes the new NICE guideline ‘Cataracts in adults: management’, which represents an important step in improving patient care and outcomes in the NHS. Commenting on the new guideline, FODO Chief Executive David Hewlett said: “This guideline helpfully summarises the longstanding views of clinicians and professional bodies and should help
World Sight Day 2017 – Eye care organisations worldwide unite to reduce avoidable blindness and ‘Make Vision Count’
FODO is joining with eye care organisations the world over today in pledging to cut the prevalence of avoidable blindness and ‘Make Vision Count’. The call from the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB), the alliance of eye care organisations, comes with the release of data yesterday from
Patient Survey – NHS Treatment Delays Survey for Ophthalmology Patients
The All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Eye Health and Visual Impairment is running a patient survey on experiences of delays in accessing NHS hospital–based ophthalmology services. This is part of the evidence gathering for their inquiry into NHS hospital ophthalmology capacity. (FODO CEO David Hewlett is on the Expert
Breakthrough standards for refractive surgery have been launched today
Breakthrough standards for providers and clinical teams offering refractive surgery, and which propose new protections for UK patients, have been launched today. These new standards are intended to ensure patients get the highest quality of care across the board. They are patient-focussed, including new checks and balances on the way
Performers List videos for pre-reg optometrists launched
New resources to help pre-registration optometrists navigate the NHS England Ophthalmic Performers List application process and obtain their OPL number as quickly as possible after qualifying have been launched by LOCSU and the Optical Confederation, of which FODO is an active member. Included in the new section on the LOCSU
Optical Confederation response to the General Election Manifestos
The Optical Confederation, of which FODO is an active member, welcomes the priority given to health in all party manifestos. The need to modernise and deliver more care outside hospital and closer to home to meet the growing health care needs is urgent and now long overdue. This needs to
FODO Annual Review 2016/17
Our Annual Review for 2016/17 has just been released and was launched at the recent Optrafair event. The review looks at FODO’s work over the past financial year covering: FODO’s Chair and CEO reports Detailed policy and support update Our work in Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, and Europe NCHA’s
The Royal College of Ophthalmologists publishes refractive surgery standards guidance for ophthalmologists
The Royal College of Ophthalmologists (RCO) have published guidance on refractive surgery standards for surgeons. The new standards are expected to be implemented by 1 June 2017. David Hewlett, Chief Executive of FODO and Optical Confederation member said: “Having commented substantively on earlier drafts, we look forward to studying this
Government Freezes Sight Test Fees
The Government has today announced its intention to freeze NHS sight test fees in England for the second year in a row, leaving them at 2015-16 levels for 2017-18. Optical vouchers, which provide help to patients on low incomes and to children who need spectacles, have also been frozen. The
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