FODO member update – 24 July
This week:
- A new PM – what next?
- High-street regeneration through healthcare
- Your views on proposed changes to the GOC ‘Statement on testing of sight’
- GOC publishes hearings guidance
- Webinar on employment tribunals
- College to award new assessor affixes based on experience
- At a glance
- Health policy news
It is all change again at the top, with a new prime minister in Andy Burnham and a new health team, but, as with the previous team, this government faces significant economic and political headwinds.
As ever, FODO will continue to horizon-scan for opportunities and risks on your behalf, whether that means ramping up our monitoring during passage of the latest Health Bill, analysing the changing landscape following the latest cabinet reshuffle, or looking for new ways to influence the agenda.
That work is already under way. Given Mr Burnham’s planned review of business rates in England and his government’s continued push to revitalise high streets, we have begun work with wider primary care on what we can do together to ensure the voice of out-of-hospital healthcare providers is heard, including on business rates. We also continue to ensure policymakers understand the important role our members play on the high street and as major employers across the UK, recently highlighting this to the chair of NHS England and the minister for health.
While things continue to change at Number 10, we continue to represent your interests as the political landscape evolves. We will keep members updated on any significant developments, as we always do. In the meantime, if you would like to know more about the new Cabinet, please see the health policy section below.
If you have any questions, please contact us at [email protected]
High-street regeneration through healthcare
Boots has published a report with Public First analysing how expanding local healthcare provision is not only good for community health but also for reviving the country’s rundown high streets.
The ‘Healthy high streets: stronger health, stronger high streets’ report combines public polling and economic modelling. It shows that lack of access to healthcare remains a public concern and that 94% of people would visit other high-street businesses if they attended a healthcare appointment in the same area.
Read more in Clarity.
Your views on proposed changes to the GOC ‘Statement on testing of sight’
A reminder that the GOC is consulting on proposed updates to its ‘Statement on testing of sight’ and related changes to the supervision and delegation requirements in its Standards of Practice for Optometrists and Dispensing Opticians and Standards for Optical Students.
The GOC proposals do not raise significant concerns for members, as they preserve the integrity of the sight test and the optometrist’s central role. However, the consultation offers an opportunity to identify areas requiring further clarification.
Members are asked to complete this form by 28 August.
GOC publishes hearings guidance
The GOC has updated its ‘Hearings and indicative sanctions guidance’ to improve clarity for Fitness to Practise Committees (FtPCs) when considering sanctions.
Carole Auchterlonie, director of regulatory operations, said the GOC had responded to feedback. She added: “We have made updates to the guidance so that it is clearer, without being prescriptive, for our committees when considering whether or not to apply sanctions. This updated guidance marks an important next step in our journey to improve our fitness to practise process and make sure it’s fair for all involved.”
Read more about the changes in Clarity.
Webinar on employment tribunals
Most employers do not expect to face an employment tribunal, yet tribunals can arise from everyday situations, such as rushed dismissals, undocumented conversations or poorly handled grievances.
FODO members are invited to join a WorkNest webinar to understand why claims happen and the practical steps you can take to reduce risk.
‘Employment tribunals: causes, costs and claim prevention’ is on 20 August at 2pm. Register here.
College to award new assessor affixes based on experience
The College of Optometrists has launched a new framework of assessor affixes that recognise and reflect experience, commitment and professional judgement.
The three tiers are:
- Opt A – assessors who have completed the full assessment cycle of the registration scheme and CLiP and have demonstrated effective assessing practice
- OptIQA – assessors undertaking quality assurance and assessor development
- OptSenA – senior assessors who lead assessment quality and support continuous improvement.
Read more in Clarity.
- Topcon has received CE mark approval for its GAIA, an automated retinal fundus imaging device with a wider field of view than traditional cameras. Read more.
- A study published in Eye reveals that a new sutureless amniotic membrane treatment for persistent epithelial defects (PEDs) can lead to faster recovery and fewer hospital appointments.
- The BCLA has appointed a new chair, optometrist Manbir Nagra, and three council members. Read more in Clarity.
- Optician magazine reports that there were 889 serious faults registered for eyesight-related checks at the start of driving tests between January 2024 and March 2025.
- RNIB calls on Andy Burnham to use his premiership to fix the Access to Work scheme and to protect benefits such as Personal Independence Payments (PIPs).
- Specsavers scholarship and UCAS partnership drive rise in optometry degree applications. Read more in Clarity.
- Master’s student Ben Ayliffe from Keele University is seeking optometrists to complete a survey on workplace wellbeing as part of his research.
- The medical technology company Occuity has secured a £1.5 million grant to produce a handheld device that uses eye scans for diabetes screening. Read more.
Andy Burnham made his first speech as prime minister outside Downing Street on Monday. He is the UK’s seventh prime minister in a decade. He promised to “change politics, to make it more collaborative, more about problem-solving than point-scoring”.
Mr Burnham has yet to make any concrete announcements on health but has appointed the seasoned politician Yvette Cooper to take over from James Murray as secretary of state at the Department of Health and Social Care. Dame Diana Johnson becomes a minister of state for health, joining Karin Smyth, who remains in her ministerial post. Stephen Kinnock, former minister of state for health and social care, becomes secretary of state for Wales.
Read more in Clarity.
NHS England approves first IHO trusts
Northumbria Healthcare Foundation Trust and Northamptonshire Healthcare FT have become the first two trusts approved to hold an integrated health organisation (IHO) contract, the HSJ reports.
Subject to approval by their ICB commissioners, the trusts will take responsibility for managing the entire health and care budget for their area to improve health outcomes and deliver better value for money.