News & Views

The FRCOphth Part 2 Oral examination is changing due to personal contact and social distancing measures required to contain the COVID-19 pandemic.

Over the summer, the Surgical Skills Faculty will be hosting a series of monthly webinars focusing on how to use a variety of simulation techniques to acquire and maintain surgical skills during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Since the last national ophthalmology trainee survey was conducted in 2014, the UK government introduced a new junior doctor contract (JDC) whilst demand for ophthalmology services has risen to unprecedented levels. To assess the impact of these and other factors on Ophthalmic Specialist Training (OST), a follow-up 25-question online survey was conducted.

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, The Royal College of Ophthalmologists recognises the need to support a return to normal training and limit any further disruption.

The National Insitute of Health Research (NIHR) has set out a framework to guide the restarting of NIHR research activities which have been paused due to COVID-19.

Ophthalmologists make use of micro-surgical techniques in a variety of operations on the eye. The use of EyeSi simulators to practice these techniques allows trainees to refresh and improve their surgical skills.

Health Education England (HEE) has expressed concern about the service pressures that trainees and in particular, young clinical academics may find themselves in during the Covid 19 emergency. HEE recognises that the available levels of supervision and support in the clinical service may not meet previously expected levels.

In the latest episode of Eye to Eye, the podcast from the Royal College of Ophthalmologists, Miss Fiona Spencer, Chair of the Training Committee spoke about the impact of the COVID-19 crisis on Ophthalmology and Ophthalmologists in training.

The Ophthalmic Common Clinical Competency Framework (OCCCF) has now been developed into an Ophthalmic Practitioner Training (OPT), and is ready to be implemented in all units.

The RCOphth has launched a new special episode of its Eye to Eye podcast ahead of the upcoming 2020 intake National Recruitment interviews in Bristol. This special episode features an interview with RCOphth National Recruitment Sub-committee Chair, Sarah Maling, who shares some top tips for those preparing for their interviews.