22 July 2022

FODO member update – 22 July

This week:

• GOC call for evidence and consultation
• Scotland Vouchers at a Glance
• DVLA announces change in law to allow GOC registrants to complete questionnaires
• LOCSU appoints new CEO
• Optometry Scotland appoints new director of operations
• ONI elects new chair
• Other sector news
• Health policy updates

GOC call for evidence and consultation

The GOC call for evidence closed on 18 July, with over 350 submissions.
 
In a statement, the GOC said it would now "analyse the responses to assess the impact of proposed changes, or of making no change, and consider whether there are gaps in evidence that would require further research".
 
Leonie Milliner, Chief Executive and Registrar, GOC, thanked everybody who participated. She said: "There is a great deal of work for the GOC to do before we can update the sector in September, so please bear with us until then."

Read FODO's response to GOC 

Scotland Vouchers at a Glance

Following our 8 July update about increases in voucher values in Scotland, we have published Vouchers at a Glance Scotland. Download the PDF version or access it online. 

DVLA announces change in law to allow GOC registrants to complete questionnaires

The law has changed to enable GMC doctors to refer DVLA medical questionnaires to other healthcare professionals, including GOC registrants, when they decide this would be appropriate.
 
The law change aims to speed up the medical licensing process and reduce the burden on GPs.
 
DVLA will still send the medical forms to GMC doctors and consultants, notifying them when a driver declares a medical condition. However, doctors can now decide which healthcare professional in practice to refer it for completion.
 
Read more.
 
If you have any questions, please email [email protected]. 

LOCSU appoints new CEO

Janice Foster has been appointed as the new LOCSU CEO. Janice joins LOCSU from Cleveland Local Medical Committee (LMC), where she was chief executive.

Janice said: "I am delighted to join the team at LOCSU and look forward to supporting the further development of local optical committees across the country, using the tremendous platform that is in place to build, together, the best possible experiences for staff and patients."

LOCSU chair Joy Tweed said: "[Janice] brings with her a depth of experience and understanding of primary care and membership organisations, which will help steer LOCSU in the next stage of its journey, supporting local optical committees and meeting the challenges/opportunities of the new NHS landscape."

Read more 

Optometry Scotland appoints new director of operations

Optometry Scotland has appointed the former director of the Glasgow Social Enterprise Network, Elizabeth Docherty, to the newly created role of director of operations. 

ONI elects new chair

Optometry Northern Ireland (ONI) has elected Jillian Campbell as its new chair. Jillian takes over from William Stockdale. Brian McKeown becomes the new deputy chair.
 
Alan Tinger, FODO director, said: "William has done a tremendous amount for practices and practitioners in Northern Ireland, including securing PPE for practices during the pandemic and working closely with the Department to help practices meet needs safely." 

Other sector news

Bookings are now open for the Scottish Optical Conference in Glasgow this November. Learn more.
 
The Royal College of Ophthalmologists has launched a new resource called Concise Practice Points (CPPs). These short documents focus on patient care where there is uncertainty and make recommendations accordingly. Read more.
 
The BCLA and CooperVision have published a new factsheet and consent form, which they hope will help parents of children with myopia make informed decisions. Read more. 
 
SeeAbility publishes resources on Making eye tests easier. 

Health policy updates

In England, NHS employees will receive a 4.5% pay increase on average, with lower-paid frontline staff seeing more substantive uplifts in response to inflation than higher-paid management.
 
In response, the NHS Confederation has raised concerns that the NHS budget only accounts for a 3% increase in pay and, therefore, cuts to frontline care will need to meet the funding gap.

The new BMA chair said the NHS doctors' strike is "inevitable" due to chronic underfunding. Doctors have voted for a 30% increase in salaries over the next five years. Read more.
 
In Scotland, medical and dental staff will be awarded a 4.5% pay increase for this year, backdated to April 2022.