As the voice of the profession, we work closely with our members, partners across the eye care sector and policymakers to improve public policy so key challenges facing ophthalmology services across the UK are recognised and addressed.
Since our last roundup, we:
- Saw our key priorities cited in a Welsh inquiry. The Senedd’s Health and Social Care Committee report reflected many of our recommendations on workforce, estates and IT infrastructure, and proposed RCOphth representation on a new oversight board. We look forward to supporting implementation.
- Responded to a government consultation on increasing the number of medicines available to optometrists treating minor eye conditions. Our response supported most proposals but raised concerns about pilocarpine and stressed the need for clear guidance where other medicines – such as azithromycin, gentamicin, atropine and homatropine – should be used only as second-line therapies.
- Submitted to the government’s call for evidence on its 10 Year Workforce Plan. We set out scalable service models – diagnostic centres, enhanced optometry pathways, surgical hubs and virtual pathways – and emphasised the importance for workforce expansion, digital solutions such as a single point of access (SPoA) model and standardised electronic health records. We reiterated these priorities at a parliamentary event attended by Health Secretary Wes Streeting, Health Minister Karin Smyth and NHS England Chair Penny Dash.
- Responded to the Public Accounts Committee’s (PAC) inquiry into costs of clinical negligence. Our submission showed how these costs are rising disproportionately in ophthalmology, driven by workforce pressure and fragmented care pathways, including increased independent sector cataract activity. We recommended system-wide quality improvement and better integration of data on follow-up waits into commissioners’ and Trusts’ decision-making processes.
- Had our evidence cited in a PAC report on reducing NHS waiting times for elective care. The Committee said our submission “noted that technology can be used to eliminate waste in the system and prioritise patients better”. This included examples such as virtual pods for eligible medical retina and glaucoma patients and an SPoA model to streamline referrals.
- Wrote to Care Minister Stephen Kinnock supporting legislative change to allow orthoptists to prescribe glasses in hospitals, provided this is underpinned by appropriate postgraduate training and competency frameworks, as recommended by the British and Irish Orthoptic Society.
- Endorsed the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges’ position statement on clinical research, which calls for protected time for research and education in NHS job plans, improved recognition through awards and prizes, and g a flexible clinical research pathway for resident doctors.