Physician Associates pilot scheme – October update
The College is undertaking a pilot scheme to determine whether Physician Associates (Pas) are an appropriately skilled and financially appropriate addition to the ophthalmic workforce.
News & Views
Read the latest RCOphth news updates and guidance here.
Gordon Cropper RIP
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.
RCOphth responds to government’s elective recovery taskforce plan
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’.
RCOphth welcomes expansion of sight testing in special schools following concerns raised
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 23rd Ukrainian Ophthalmological Congress, "You must see your childhood." was a success!
The two-day online Ukrainian Ophthalmological Congress "You must see your childhood' 23" was a success. More than 7,000 Ukrainian medical professionals, including ophthalmologists, paediatric ophthalmologists, optometrists, and medical professionals from other disciplines, had the chance to interact, hear lectures, and participate in master sessions.
The RCOphth Ophthalmologists in Training Group statement on the Junior Doctor second strike action
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.
The Royal College of Ophthalmologists and The College of Optometrists call for the standardisation of digital imaging across eye care services
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.
The Royal College of Ophthalmologists responds to the news of the death of Her Majesty the Queen
We are truly saddened at the death of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II.
GMC’s annual training survey shows ophthalmologists in training highly rate teaching, but progression is delayed
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.
SAS as educators
The SAS as educators paper, approved at the last Academy Council meeting, has now been published on our website.