07 November 2025

FODO member update – 7 November

This week:

• NHS commissioning framework recognises primary eye care
• Optometry Scotland publishes manifesto
• Government study confirms headlight glare is a serious concern
• Royal College states its position on community shift
• Celebrating centenary of dispensing optics
• Charity changes perspective on eye screen
• PCSE change to user rights
• At a glance
• Health policy news

NHS commissioning framework recognises primary eye care

FODO has welcomed NHS England's instruction to commissioning bodies to recognise the importance of primary eye care to local leadership and governance, in its new NHS strategic commissioning framework.

The framework, published on Tuesday, marks a reset for NHS commissioning. The government asks integrated care boards (ICBs) to focus on health commissioning fundamentals - using evidence, understanding local needs and ensuring procurement delivers value, quality and sustainability.

Harjit Sandhu, FODO's chief executive, said he was pleased to see the commitment to primary eye care. He said: "We will continue to support ICBs to understand the Primary Ophthalmic Service (POS) framework but will also push back against any work or risk being shifted to primary eye care without proper funding." 

Read our blog in Clarity.

Optometry Scotland publishes manifesto

Optometry Scotland has published a manifesto for primary eye care ahead of the Scottish Parliament elections, scheduled for May next year.

'Community Optometry: A Sustainable Solution for Eye Care' calls for political parties to commit to three priorities - safeguarding universal access to NHS care, investing in local, enhanced optometry services, and ensuring the workforce keeps pace with change.

Kathryn Trimmer, chair of FODO Scotland, said the organisation strongly backed the manifesto. "The sector is rightly proud of all that we have achieved in Scotland [...] It is now important we protect services for patients and continue to make progress in meeting more patient needs closer to home." Read more in Clarity.

Government study confirms headlight glare is a serious concern

A study commissioned by the Department for Transport has revealed that most drivers are affected by the dazzle of modern headlights, and, as a result, many are avoiding nighttime driving.
 
The research, which combined responses from a survey with real-time data on glare from a test car equipped with sensors, indicates that whiter LED lights lead to increased glare. "Regular eye tests are also important, and keeping spectacles clean, especially if glare seems to be getting worse," the report adds. Read more in Clarity. 

Royal College states its position on community shift

The Royal College of Ophthalmologists has called for appropriate funding and training for enhanced optometry services in its position statement on shifting ophthalmology-led care from hospital to community settings.
 
The professional body said it supported the delivery of community ophthalmology through enhanced optometry services, surgical hubs and diagnostic centres, "to improve access, efficiency and sustainability". However, it stressed the need to safeguard hospital services for "complex surgery, patients with complex needs and emergency care". Read more. 

Celebrating centenary of dispensing optics

ABDO is preparing for a year of events and activities in 2026 to mark 100 years since its predecessor organisation recognised dispensing opticians as a distinct profession.
 
Alistair Bridge, ABDO chief executive, said "it is a great opportunity to celebrate the achievements of DOs and look ahead to the future". Planned activities include themed charity fundraising events, a '100 voices' video project where members can share their professional stories and the opportunity to vote on a centenary logo to be used in practice and online. Read more. 

Charity changes perspective on eye screen

The charity Orbis has had a lasting impact on a Zambian province, where it has trained local people and introduced free screening. A public information campaign has helped residents understand the importance of monitoring children's eye health. Read more in Clarity. 

PCSE change to user rights

Primary Care Support England (PCSE) has announced that it will only assign User Administrator roles from 11 December. Responsibility for creating, updating or removing user access will become the responsibility of each organisation. Read more. 

At a glance

• New HFAC guidance extends high-flow cataract surgery principles to cover all complexity levels.
• Research led by Queen's University and funded by Diabetes UK, suggests that a diabetic retinopathy drug prevent could prevent sight loss.
• Ann Blackmore to retire after six years as regulatory consultant to the Optical Suppliers Association.
• Leightons Opticians has launched a dry eye service across its practices, Optician online magazine reports.
• Spectrum reports' on Shockat Adam MP's visit to a VisionCare clinic on World Homeless Day.
• RNIB introduces eye care liaison officers in the Hertfordshire and West Essex area.

Health policy news

Moorfields renames single point of access service
 
The North Central London Single Point of Access (SPoA) service, through which optometrists can refer to hospital, has changed its name to Sparc.
 
The service, hosted at Moorfields Eye Hospital, is described as streamlining the referral process between primary and secondary care. Moorfields has said the Sparc service is "a transformative digital platform" that goes beyond a SPoA service to support service innovation, such as CPD education sessions and improved patient choice. We would like to hear from FODO members that experience Sparc, if you can share how it has impacted patient choice and clinical outcomes, please email [email protected].
 
Welsh ophthalmology waiting times
 
The latest Welsh ophthalmology data for September shows 161,932 patient pathways (where the patient had a Health Risk Factor R1 assessment) were waiting for an outpatient appointment. Of those, 161,886 had a target date allocated.
In 50% of cases, patients were waiting within their target date or 25% beyond their it.
 
NHS Confederation ICS report

The NHS Confederation's annual survey of ICB leaders found that most (64%) felt that moving spending away from hospitals and into communities would make the most difference to health in their local communities.
The State of Integrated Care Systems report shows robust support for the government's NHS reforms. However, concerns remain about the financial and operational pressures its recent restructuring plans have caused.

BMA rejects Streeting's offer to end dispute

Resident doctors have turned down the latest offer from the health secretary to end the dispute over jobs and pay in England, saying the offer does not go far enough, the BBC reported. The doctors are due to go on strike next week, from 7am on 14 November, for five days.