Consultant ophthalmologist Romi Chhabra has been appointed as incoming clinical lead for the age-related macular degeneration (AMD) audit, succeeding Martin McKibbin.
AMD is a leading cause of sight impairment, and the audit gathers data on its treatment and care at centres across the UK. The audit’s aim is to drive quality improvement by providing benchmarks that enable patients, providers and commissioners to compare clinical outcomes and key care processes at different centres in order to enable informed decision-making and patient choice. It has now reported for three consecutive years.
As clinical lead, Romi will be responsible for driving further development of the AMD audit, building on the successes of the first three implementation years.
Taking up the role, she said: “I would like to begin by acknowledging the excellent work already done under Martin’s leadership – the foundations are strong, and I am committed to building on them. Over the next three years, my aim is to strengthen the audit’s impact and ensure it continues to deliver meaningful improvements in patient care.
“The AMD audit is a vital step in improving macular care nationally. By tracking real-world outcomes of AMD treatment across centres in the UK, it provides invaluable insights into how services are delivered. It is more than data collection, it is about using those insights to benchmark performance, reduce variation, and drive evidence-based improvements in care. As a gold standard in linking clinical data to system-wide change, the AMD audit can influence not only services but also patients, commissioners, and policymakers.
“My three key priorities will be: expanding participation and improving data quality by working closely with different EMR providers for easier integration; ensuring clear and timely analysis; and creating real impact by establishing the NOD AMD audit as a driver of consistent, forward-looking AMD care across the UK, especially as the landscape of intravitreal drugs is changing rapidly.”
For further information visit the audit website: About the AMD Audit | NOD Audit