03 May 2024

FODO member update - 3 May

This week:

• Primary eye care shows high level of innovation
• Westminster Hall debates focus on eye care
• Body Corporate registration update
• PCSE update
• Scotland PCA update
• Cataract outcomes continue to improve
• At a glance
• Health policy news

Primary eye care shows high level of innovation

The GOC has unveiled the results of its first survey, which was carried out exclusively among its primary eye care provider registrants.

It found that practices invested in digital technologies and introduced a new or improved clinical service to improve the customer experience.

This approach to innovate and meet patient needs is set to continue, with a quarter of respondents planning to use AI and other technologies within the next two years.

Providers also reported workforce pressures and shared concerns about uncertainty regarding the future, although the majority forecast continued growth.

Read more

Westminster Hall debates focus on eye care

DUP MP Jim Shannon brought a Westminster Hall Debate on 'Glaucoma and Community Optometry' this week. MPs from across the political spectrum urged the government to do more to tackle waits that put sight at risk.

Responding for the government, health and secondary care minister Andrew Stephenson said: "Community optometry plays an essential role in protecting people's eye health" and "most glaucoma patients are identified through routine sight tests".

He added that the government was "committed to making greater use of community optometry to help to alleviate pressures in secondary care". He praised enhanced eye care services, stating, "glaucoma referral filtering schemes have delivered fantastic results".

Also this week, Labour MP Margaret Greenwood supported a Westminster Hall debate on 'Preventable Sight Loss'. She raised concerns that only 25% of ophthalmology departments feel they can meet needs and backlogs continued to worsen.

Responding, Andrew Stephenson said the government was committed to eye health, which is why "the NHS invests more than £500 million every year on free eye tests for people on benefits, people over 60, and people at risk of serious conditions".

He added: "NHS England's transformation programme is currently funding seven projects across each ICS area, testing how improved IT links between primary and secondary care could allow patients to be assessed and triaged virtually. Where appropriate, that would keep patients out of hospital, freeing up hospital eye-service capacity for those who need specialist care the most."

Body Corporate registration update

The GOC will undertake its usual checks to ensure that companies registered under Section 9.2 (a) of the Opticians Act 1989 still meet the criteria for registering.

Where a company is thought not to meet the requirement, the GOC will initially send it an email and allow 10 working days to update its corporate structure to continue meeting the registration requirements. If the GOC receives no response, it will start issuing the 28-day statutory notice for removal.

FODO members can contact [email protected] for support.

PCSE update

PCSE has issued an important update covering the Ophthalmic Payments service. It includes how to tackle some common problems that practices report experiencing. We advise all members in England to read the latest update.

Scotland PCA update

The Scottish Government has published its latest PCA. It explains changes being made to the 'Eyes' website, decommissioning of the Community Eye Care website and associated apps, guidance to support the risk stratification and safe discharge of patients into the Community Glaucoma Service, and a trial enabling some people to apply online for the NHS Low Income Scheme. Read the PCA.

Cataract outcomes continue to improve

The latest National Ophthalmology Database (NOD) cataract audit shows that the safety of cataract surgery in the UK continues to improve, with fewer than 1 in 200 patients experiencing a substantial reduction in vision following cataract surgery.

The Royal College of Ophthalmologists reports that the data shows "cataract surgery is being undertaken at an earlier stage in the disease process than ever before, possibly because of the increasing safety of the procedure, with many people electing to have surgery while still having vision good enough to drive legally."

Dr John Buchan, clinical lead - RCOphth NOD Cataract Audit, said: "The increase in numbers and safety of cataract operations is encouraging for both patients and providers. The expansion has been achieved by the growth of high-volume consultant-delivered services, but this increase in low-complexity cases also represents an opportunity to improve surgical training, which has not yet been seized."

At a glance

• A University of Bradford study seeks to understand better the level of mental wellbeing and burnout among optometrists and pre-registration optometrists in the UK and identify potential triggers. Learn more and take part.
• Join the Royal College of Ophthalmologists AGM on 21 May at 10.45am.
• RNIB sets out A vision for a fairer future: our priorities for the Welsh Government.
• Essilor Luxottica and WCO publish a global standard of care for presbyopia and the aging eye.
• The College of Optometrists has announced that Dr Gillian Rudduck MCOptom will be its new president. Read more.
• NHS Wales has published a guideline advising on the antimicrobial management of common infections in primary care, considering local pathogen and antimicrobial susceptibility data in Wales. Read more.
• College seeks nominations for Life and Honorary Fellowships. Read more.
• College and BCLA report Optometry Tomorrow 24 is a success. Read more.
• Jo Underwood, founding principal of ABDO College, has been presented with the ABDO Medal of Excellence for her outstanding service and commitment to the Association. Read more.
• Runner with sudden sight loss won't be beaten. Read more.

Health policy news

An impact assessment of the Community Glaucoma Service (CGS) in island communities has found that, where sufficient community optometry capacity is present, the CGS will give all eligible island residents access to the same service as that received on the mainland. It also reports that "to deliver enhanced community-based eyecare services, there must first be sufficient capacity for the provision of NHS eye examinations under GOS". The report also addresses the need for IP optometrists and the Scottish Government's rollout of a new Master's Optometry degree.

The Health Foundation has published a report on the technologies that offer the biggest opportunities to save time in the NHS. A survey found that electronic health records and tools for professional-to-professional communication ranked highest. The report also highlighted the need to focus on technologies that can reduce clinician time on administrative work. It added that too often: "the development and spread of health technology are driven by suppliers and procurement processes rather than by what the NHS workforce wants and needs."

The HSJ reports that NHS England will aim to halve waiting lists to under four million over the next Parliament.