Physician Associates pilot scheme – October update
The College is undertaking a pilot scheme to determine whether Physician Associates (Pas) are an appropriately skilled and financially appropriate addition to the ophthalmic workforce.
News & Views
Read the latest RCOphth news updates and guidance here.
Keeler Scholars announced
The Keeler Scholarship 2022 has been jointly awarded to Jared Ching and Arthur Okonkwo. The biennial award, sponsored by Keeler Limited, is made to College fellows, members or affiliates to enable them to study, research or acquire special skills, knowledge or experience to benefit ophthalmology in the UK.
Future design of special schools eye care service being consulted on
Following the welcome announcement in June 2023 that sight testing will be expanded to all special schools in England from 2024, NHS England is now consulting on the future design of this rollout.
Amazing opportunities await newly qualified ophthalmologists
College President Ben Burton last week presented diplomas to more than 150 new Fellows at this year’s Admissions Ceremony.
Applications are invited for the new Chandra Award
Girish Chandra came from modest beginnings in India to further his ophthalmic career in the UK in the 1960’s. He subsequently worked in numerous countries in North America and Asia. He recognises that the chance to train in the UK is a valuable and cherished opportunity, and he hopes that this award will facilitate this for future ophthalmologists.
RCOphth evidence to COVID inquiry calls for better planning, coordination and consultation in future public health emergencies
We have provided evidence to the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges (AoMRC), which is responding to the UK COVID-19 Inquiry on behalf of all members. RCOphth Policy Advisor David Murray summarises the key points from our response, which recommends four actions to ensure UK ophthalmology services are resilient and able to deliver sufficient patient care and training opportunities during and after the acute stage of a future pandemic.
Updated standards for doctors now available
The General Medical Council (GMC) has this week published an update on Good medical practice, which details the principles, values and standards expected of doctors working in the UK.
RCOphth backs independent prescribing responsibilities for orthoptists
The Royal College of Ophthalmologists has written to Health Minister Will Quince MP to express our support for the extension of independent prescribing responsibilities to orthoptists. The British and Irish Orthoptic Society has previously advocated for these responsibilities, including in a letter to the Secretary of State.
Government’s Elective Recovery Taskforce right to prioritise diagnostic capacity but independent sector is not a panacea
The Government’s Elective Recovery Taskforce has announced several actions aimed at increasing capacity in England in its implementation plan, especially through expanded independent sector involvement in the delivery of NHS services. While the measures, analysed in this article, represent an important acknowledgement of the need to urgently expand capacity and aspects of the plan can help ophthalmology if implemented effectively, to make a real difference policymakers must prioritise properly investing in NHS services and its workforce and infrastructure.
View the findings of our latest National Ophthalmology Database Audit for cataract surgery
Cataract surgery remains the most frequently performed surgical procedure in the UK with almost half a million operations a year, results from our latest National Ophthalmology Database (NOD) Audit show.