Read the latest RCOphth news updates and guidance here.
Take a look at some of our recent media coverage, which includes quotes and mentions in some UK national newspapers. Our members have provided quotes and comments to UK news outlets, helping us to raise the profile of ophthalmology, answer eyecare related queries and advocate for critical issues related to eye health. Our active engagement with the media reflects our commitment to raising awareness about the critical issues as we continue to advocate for urgent reforms.
The influential thinktank Reform has published a report highlighting the scale of follow-up backlogs in England, with ophthalmology the specialty with the most patients waiting for follow-up appointments. RCOphth Policy Manager Jordan Marshall summarises the key points from the report and what needs to happen next.
Global leader in eye care, Alcon is collaborating with the college to provide educational opportunities for trainees on five innovative phaco machines, ensuring trainees at our surgical skills centre have access to the latest technology.
The NHS Diabetic Eye Screening Programme (DESP) is now screening people with diabetes at lower risk of diabetic retinopathy every two years instead of every year.
From November, this study will be added to BOSU Surveillance. We encourage all UK ophthalmologists to report cases through the BOSU email reporting system to make the data set as complete as possible, making the study more impactful.
Verteporfin has been in short supply globally since late 2020 due to capacity constraints at the manufacturing site and has been restricted for use solely in ocular cancer centres in the UK.
The Academic, Research and Innovation Subcommittee of The Royal College of Ophthalmologists would like to draw your attention to two documents issued recently, regarding guidance on Specialty and Specialist Doctor Ophthalmologists Job Plans.
As the demand of patient care and backlogs continue to put pressure on trusts and eye care units, a consequence is the difficulty in medical royal colleges being able to maintain high standards and resources to assess, examine, educate and train future generations of ophthalmologists and eye care professionals to deliver comprehensive care to patients safely and in a timely way. These responsibilities are incorporated into the charter of royal colleges.
The Ophthalmic Specialist Training (OST) Project Board is overseeing the ePortfolio Pilot Programme which started on 28 September with a fantastic face-to-face testing event at the College. This was the first time that the new ePortfolio had been experienced by any of our trainees or supervisors.
From Thursday 30 November, the standard that CESR applications are assessed against will change from Equivalence to CCT to Knowledge, Skills, and Experience (KSE), required for practising as an eligible specialist in the UK. The process will change from CESR and will be known as the Portfolio Route.
