FODO member update – 4 September
This week:
- Focus on paediatric eye care
- Almost half of registrants think AI will help eyecare
- MyGOC unavailable this week
- National Eye Health Week returns this month
- Inquest links presenter’s death to headlight glare
- At a glance
- Health policy news
FODO is supporting a campaign by ABDO, The College of Optometrists, Boots Opticians and Specsavers that highlights the importance of children receiving a full sight test before they start school.
As the new academic year begins, the campaign aims to encourage parents to get their children’s eyes tested.
Members are encouraged to take part in this national initiative by promoting ABDO/College/DOCET and other resources in their workplace. Find CPD and other useful information through the children’s eye health resource hub.
Read more in Clarity.
Almost half of registrants think AI will help eyecare
The GOC’s latest registrant workforce and perceptions survey shows that 45% of registrants believe AI will improve the quality of eye care.
However, the survey, which received 3,451 responses, found that AI use in professional practice is still at an early stage. Six in 10 working respondents said they had not yet used it. Of those who did, 12% used it to help maintain knowledge and skills, 8% to support diagnosis and 8% to write patient correspondence. Read more.
The MyGOC portal is unavailable until next Wednesday (9 September) while the GOC completes its student renewal process. During this time, members will be unable to access their MyGOC or My CPD accounts.
National Eye Health Week returns this month
National Eye Health Week runs from 21-27 September. To help members spread the word on eye health, Vision Matters is combining some printed and social media material linked to themes from primary eye care services, such as dry eyes and ageing eyes.
Find the resources here.
Inquest links presenter’s death to headlight glare
The veteran BBC broadcaster Dame Jenni Murray’s death following injuries from a car crash in London, has been linked to headlight glare, Highway News reported last week.
A statement read out at the inquest into her death at Barnet Coroner’s Court said: “Jennifer had been driving when she became dazzled by vehicle lights and collided with two stationary vehicles.” Although she walked away from the scene, she suffered fractures to her rib and sternum, which contributed to her death from bronchopneumonia.
In February, the RAC published a survey on headlight glare that showed most UK drivers find headlights too bright, with half saying they either drive less or have given up driving at night as a result.
- The seventh Macular Disease Conference takes place on 12 September online. It is free to attend. Register to attend.
- The College of Optometrists and Boots Opticians offer a fully funded PhD Scholarship for optometry research. Applications open in October. Read more.
- ABDO has relaunched its Hamblin Memorial Prize, which offers £200 in cash to recognise “exceptional service to the advancement of opticians through innovation in practice, education, research or promoting the profession”.
- Consultant ophthalmologist Victor Hu is the incoming clinical lead for the National Ophthalmology Database (NOD) cataract audit, succeeding John Buchan. Read more.
- The Royal College of Ophthalmologists invites feedback and comments on a new draft consensus guideline on Open Globe Injuries.
- Nominations are open for the Love Eyewear awards. Entries close at 5pm on 1 December, with the shortlist revealed in January 2027.
- The public can visit the British Optical Association Museum, housed at The College of Optometrists, as part of its Open House Festival on 13 September. Read more in Clarity.
Report finds public more likely to consider private healthcare
The Independent Healthcare Providers Network (IHPN) has found that 71% of people would consider using private healthcare if they needed treatment, up from 63% a year ago.
In its latest ‘Going Private’ report, the organisation says this figure includes people from across the political spectrum, and that the public increasingly views NHS and private care as complementary rather than competing.
“Almost 8 in 10 (78%) of Labour and Conservative voters say they would be open to using private healthcare, along with 75% of Reform voters, 71% of Lib Dem voters and 69% of Green voters,” the report says.
People with sight loss still face barriers to care
A new Healthwatch report suggests that many people with sight loss still face significant barriers when accessing healthcare, despite the introduction of the NHS Accessible Information Standard (AIS) a decade ago.
Feedback collected in 2026 shows persistent problems, including a lack of reasonable adjustments for accessing appointment systems, letters, forms and digital services. Patients also report being unable to read text messages or access online booking services they were told to use.
Read the Healthwatch blog.
Scotland to drastically reduce number of health boards
John Swinney, Scotland’s first minister, has confirmed plans to cut the number of mainland health boards from 11 to 2, merging boards to create one for the east of Scotland and one for the west, the BBC reports.
Setting out his programme for government, Swinney called the move “the most significant structural reform of our NHS in the devolution era”. Shetland, Orkney and the Western Isles have separate plans. His government’s commitments additionally include investing £144m this year in community eyecare.
The Scottish government has also published its Health and Care Improving Flow Plan 2026-2031, which promises “whole-system collaboration” to deliver services closer to home.