Read the latest RCOphth news updates and guidance here.
Gordon Cropper, who was a former member of our Board of Trustees, died in early September. Prior to becoming a Lay Trustee, Gordon was a member of the Lay Advisory Group and was a dedicated and valued member of both our Training Committee and National Recruitment Subcommittee.
The Department of Health and Social Care has today published its Elective recovery taskforce implementation plan. The plan covers England and focuses on ‘increasing the use of independent sector capacity across a broader range of specialties, helping to get NHS waiting times down and ensuring every patient can realise their right to choose where they receive their NHS care’.
Following representations by RCOphth and other organisations, the government has taken the welcome step of confirming that sight testing will be expanded to all special schools from 2024/25.
The Ophthalmologists-in-Training Group (OTG) and The Royal College of Ophthalmologists fully appreciate the hard work of our Junior Doctor colleagues and that this needs to be appropriately recognised and supported.
Currently, there is no standardisation across ophthalmic imaging technologies with the consequence that there is no easy way to exchange digital images between systems. Standardisation of digital imaging across eye care services would ensure that there is interoperability and a seamless interface that allows effective image sharing. The Royal College of Ophthalmologists and The College of Optometrists are now calling for the standardisation of digital imaging across eye care services.
We are truly saddened at the death of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II.
The General Medical Council (GMC) conducts an annual survey of trainees and trainers across the UK. This covers a range of issues relating to education and training, wellbeing at work and patient safety. The progression of ophthalmology trainees is still well behind what was typical before the pandemic.
The SAS as educators paper, approved at the last Academy Council meeting, has now been published on our website.
SAS workforce and mentorship statement endorses the importance of the opportunities for SAS doctors to be mentored and act as mentors, at both a national and local level.
NICE published the Selective laser therapy recommended to treat glaucoma and ocular hypertension and The Royal College of Ophthalmologists provided a response to the NICE consultation on the new guidance and our comments and feedback were acknowledged by NICE.
