News & Views

Read the latest RCOphth news updates and guidance here.

News

Ben Burton takes over Presidency

Dear colleagues I hope those of you who attended Congress enjoyed the exceptional programme of sessions, panel discussions, new surgical skills, the exhibition and good lunches! In this first fully face to face Congress post covid, it is a reminder of how hugely important it is for everyone’s well-being to catch up with colleagues and chat with RCOphth staff over a coffee and socialise too. I hope everyone agrees it was a great success and thank you to everyone who gave up their time to speak or run sessions, as well as staff members who managed the event, ran the registration desks, published social media, interviewed delegates and manned the RCOphth stand. Everyone who contributed, made Congress a splendid event. I look forward to 2024 and welcoming even more delegates to Belfast. This Congress was also the official hand over of the presidency to me from Bernie. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Bernie for all his hard work and efforts as president over the last three years. He is undoubtedly one of the nicest, most polite people I have ever met and I have learned a lot from him.

News

RCOphth / Fight for Sight Zakarian Awards Now Open

The 2023 Zakarian Awards are now open for submissions. Three awards will be offered to ophthalmologists who are members of The Royal College of Ophthalmologists, to gain experience and undertake ophthalmic and vision research. The RCOphth Zakarian Awards are designed to support three categories of researchers: Ophthalmology trainees not in the IATS or other research training posts seeking to undertake research. Support can be sought for consumables, equipment and open access dissemination and for salary support to buy ‘time out’ from a training programme to undertake research. Consultants or SAS ophthalmologists holding NHS substantive contracts and without dedicated research time (PAs in job plan). Those holding academic posts/contracts are ineligible. Support can be sought for buying out time in the job plan for research, or for consumables or equipment to establish a research project. Academic Clinical Fellow (NIHR IATS ACF) Ophthalmology trainees seeking to prepare preliminary/pilot data to develop their proposed PhD projects and/or doctoral research training funding applications. Support can be sought for consumables, equipment and open access dissemination.

News

RCOphth priorities reflected in Parliamentary debate on the merits of a national eye health strategy

Last week Members of Parliament debated the potential merits of a national eye health strategy at Westminster Hall. The debate, tabled by Marsha de Cordova MP, saw parliamentarians from across the political spectrum cite recent RCOphth statistics and explore several policy priorities advocated by the College. They discussed how an eye care strategy, supported by investment and resourcing, could help facilitate solutions to the ophthalmology capacity challenge. 

News

Work to improve Welsh eye care services through significant investment in regionalisation enters new phase

Following the independent Pyott Report which reviewed eye care services in Wales, important progress on significant investment in Welsh eye care infrastructure, including full regionalisation of services, is being made. We update on this work, which includes £150,000 funding from the Welsh Government to develop a National Clinical Strategy for Ophthalmology. This article also examines a new plan from NHS Wales to develop the health workforce and what it will mean for ophthalmology services.

News

RCOphth webinar examines PIFU’s role in ophthalmology

The Royal College of Ophthalmologists last week hosted a webinar with King’s Mill Hospital Ophthalmology Department and NHS England’s Outpatient Recovery and Transformation team to explore how ophthalmology patient-initiated follow-up (PIFU) can be successfully implemented. The session, held following the publication of the King’s Mill PIFU case study and attended by almost 100 people from a range of professions, saw an expert panel deliver presentations on the role PIFU can play in increasing capacity as part of a wider set of actions, followed by an audience Q&A.

News

Nystagmus Concise Practice Point

Managing children with nystagmus can be complex and nuanced for clinicians in any centre drawing questions such as which tests are needed? Or how urgent are they? From urgent MRI scans to specialist eye-tracking referrals, electrodiagnostic testing and genetics, children and their families often report vastly different experiences.

News

RCOphth President delivers presentation in Parliament highlighting workforce shortages and need for better support for ophthalmology

The Royal College of Ophthalmologists President, Professor Bernie Chang, joined the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Eye Health and Visual Impairment to deliver a presentation on the findings of the College’s 2022 workforce census. Joining Parliamentarians and sector leaders, Professor Chang detailed the extent of the workforce shortages in ophthalmology and the event also saw presentations from the College of Optometrists, the Association of Optometrists, and Guys and St Thomas’ Hospital about workforce challenges and solutions in their areas.

News

Increased training places on the agenda as government responds to Parliamentary report

The government has responded to a report by the Health and Social Care Select Committee, agreeing that if medical school places are to be expanded ‘there would need to be the appropriate number of specialty training places subsequently made available for graduates’. With the upcoming Long Term Workforce Plan in England expected to announce increases to medical school places, this clarity is important in potentially paving the way for a much-needed expansion in ophthalmology specialty training places.