Winner of the Dr Sadhu Ram Gupta MBE Award announced
The 2025 winner of the Dr Sadhu Ram Gupta MBE Award for International (non-UK) Examination Candidates is Dr Ahad Sharif from Islamabad, Pakistan.
News & Views
Read the latest RCOphth news updates and guidance here.
College joins campaign to champion SAS doctors
The College has pledged its commitment to the #SASsix campaign, a national initiative aimed at supporting specialist, associate specialist and specialty (SAS) doctors to develop within their careers and become leaders and educators. SAS doctors and locally employed doctors (LEDs) are the most rapidly rising group of doctors on the medical register.
Our priorities for 2025: Delivering our fit-for-purpose healthcare vision
In this blog, College President Ben Burton celebrates some of the College's key wins in 2024 and explores initiatives that we're working on in 2025 to help us achieve our fit-for-purpose healthcare vision.
Our year in highlights
As 2024 draws to a close we reflect on the year and share some of our highlights.
New survey reveals improvements in cataract training opportunities in the independent sector
Access to cataract training in the independent sector has improved following collaborative work undertaken by The Royal College of Ophthalmologists, with placements available in all regions where independent sector providers (ISPs) operate, other than London North. Despite this progress, more work is needed as trainees in nearly all regions report they need additional training opportunities in ISPs.
New ophthalmology specialist training curriculum launched
The new curriculum for doctors on the seven-year ophthalmic specialist training (OST) programme begins today, ready for the start of the new training year
Congress discussions explore eyecare priorities ahead of general election
Policy manager Jordan Marshall shares highlights of two topical discussions at last month's EyeConUK
Postcode lottery for cataract training in independent sector
Despite important progress over the last two years, cataract surgery training opportunities in independent sector providers remain limited and in some areas – including the South West of England and London – there is no training at all in the independent sector, insights from our Ophthalmologists in Training Group (OTG) indicate.
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.
GMC’s 2023 annual training survey shows progression improving for ophthalmologists in training, alongside concerns over burnout and access to independent sector
What was the experience of ophthalmologists in training in 2023, and how does this compare to previous years? Jordan Marshall, RCOphth Policy Manager and Sam Simpson, specialty trainee and Ophthalmologists in Training Group (OTG) representative, summarise the key findings from the GMC’s 2023 National Training Survey.