23 January 2026

FODO member update – 23 January

This week:

• Sector responds to study predicting steep rise in glaucoma cases
• GOC consults on overhaul of CPD system
• Doug Perkins dedicates CBE to everybody at Specsavers
• Free webinar on cybercrime in primary care
• RCO updates cataract training guidance
• At a glance
• Health policy news

Sector responds to study predicting steep rise in glaucoma cases

The sector responded to a widely publicised study in the British Journal of Ophthalmology that predicts 1.6 million people in the UK will have glaucoma by 2060. Glaucoma UK, which commissioned the research, called for urgent action to ensure the support is in place for future patients.
 
FODO has welcomed the latest research, which it said validates the pan-sector UK Eye Care Data Hub, developed to estimate and model eye disease trends over time. Read more about the study's findings and the sector's response in Clarity.
 
In other glaucoma news, Shockat Adam MP presented a 10-Minute Rule Bill in Parliament, calling for a uniform national approach to glaucoma testing using qualified high-street optical practices.
 
He called for an integrated "shared care" service for glaucoma with seamless integration between primary and secondary care, telling the House: "Patients are losing their sight not because care does not exist, but because the pathway is broken and the follow-up is delayed." Read more. 

GOC consults on overhaul of CPD system

The GOC has launched a consultation on CPD reforms for optometrists and dispensing opticians, with some changes expected to begin from the 2028-30 CPD cycle. 

Plans include phasing out the points-based system in favour of a more flexible outcomes-based approach that individuals can shape to suit their career pathways. In addition, the GOC proposes to end its system of approving and auditing CPD providers, as it is the only regulator currently with this role.

Steve Brooker, the GOC's director of regulatory strategy, told Clarity: "We want to build on the reforms introduced in the 2022-24 cycle, which shifted CPD away from a box-ticking exercise to instead promoting and embedding a culture of learning and development."
 
Daro Bjayou, FODO policy officer, said: "Much of what the GOC is proposing aligns with what all other healthcare profession regulators also do. FODO has long supported this, including self-directed CPD. We will analyse the details and respond on members' behalf, so please get involved."
 
The consultation closes on 19 April. We would welcome your views. Please send any feedback to [email protected] 

Doug Perkins dedicates CBE to everybody at Specsavers

Specsavers co-founder Doug Perkins has dedicated his CBE for services to business and charity to the company's staff. Princess Anne presented him with the award at Windsor Castle, after which he said: "This isn't really for me. It's recognition of the 45,000 people who work for Specsavers and our ophthalmic surgery business, Newmedica and their dedication to changing people's lives through better sight and hearing." Read more. 

Free webinar on cybercrime in primary care

NHS England and the City of London Police will run the first in a series of webinars on cybercrime in primary care on 10 February at 1pm, looking at criminal activity case studies and subsequent police investigations.
 
Members can register here. For further information, contact [email protected] 

RCO updates cataract training guidance

The Royal College of Ophthalmologists has published updated guidance for cataract training in the independent sector. It aims to support independent sector providers (ISPs) to deliver appropriate and safe cataract training where required.

The RCOphth's 2022 publication, Blueprint for delivering cataract training in the independent sector, highlighted ophthalmology resident doctors' struggle to find training placements for cataract surgery following a steep rise in ISPs performing NHS-funded cataract surgery. Read more. 

At a glance

• Vision Care is seeking volunteers to take part in its nighttime walk in London to raise money to provide eye care to people experiencing homelessness. Read more in Clarity.
• Leicester University has started making provisional offers to the first cohort of students for its MOptom degree, which it hopes to start running in the coming academic year, OT reports.
• The Royal College of Optometrists is seeking nominations for regional representatives to its council. Read more.
• After the recent launch of the General Ophthalmic Services Specialist Supplementary (GOS-SS), Optometry Scotland reflects on progress in community optometry. Read more.
• Optometry Wales is running engagement events on WGOS service delivery on the evenings of 2 February in Newport and 4 February in Llantrisant. Book here.
• The Guardian reports on an RNIB survey that reveals 80% of blind and partially sighted people have struggled to navigate gaps between trains and platforms.
• The charity Sensory Services by Sight for Surrey hosted a workshop to provide feedback to tech company DiGiCo, which is developing a digital mixing console specifically for vision-impaired sound engineers.
• The MIDO eyewear tradeshow will take place on 31 January in Milan. Find out more.

Health policy news

Race to target for elective care

The Health Service Journal has reported that NHS England is launching a "sprint" to tackle long waiting lists for diagnostic tests, in an effort to hit targets for March that are currently looking unreachable. The HSJ said it understood that "tens of millions of pounds" were likely to be made available to trusts to fund extra elective work.

The NHS England target for elective care is to have 65% of patients waiting no longer than 18 weeks from initial referral to treatment, and to keep the proportion waiting over 52 weeks below 1%. The target is part of the longer-term goal to reach the 92% 18-week standard by 2029.

HSE leader to run merged NHS body

Sir Ciarán Devane will lead a new organisation formed from the merger of NHS Providers and the NHS Confederation.

Sir Ciarán, who is currently chair of the Health Service Executive (HSE) in Ireland, will be the first leader of the new membership body, which will represent frontline NHS organisations across England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

The legal merger concluded on 13 January, and the new membership body will launch in April. It will reveal its name and branding soon. Read more.