Our office phone number is changing

From 6 March 2023 our main phone number will be 0300 030 2020.  Use the telephone directory or use [email protected] to get in touch.

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Our Policy Priorities

Our policy work is developed in consultation with members and partners in the eye health sector. We aim to influence public policy to maintain high standards of care and outcomes for patients and a workforce needed to meet that care.

A core aim of The Royal College of Ophthalmologists is to ensure high standards of ophthalmic patient care; saving the sight of the nation is important for people’s well-being, quality of life and maintaining a productive society and economy. To do this we need a sustainable workforce in place to deliver that care.

One way we do this is by working with our members, NHS organisations and other bodies, like the GMC, in the UK to influence policies that affect the delivery of ophthalmology services. We also partner with primary care organisations like The College of Optometrists and also the independent sector.

Our policy work focuses on a range of important priorities

  • We have a multi-professional eye care workforce in place that meets the needs of patients
  • The role played by independent sector providers contributes to the delivery of sustainable patient care, including by enabling access to surgical training
  • Eye care services are better integrated across primary, secondary and community care so that patient outcomes and experience is improved
  • Ophthalmologists are empowered to become involved in clinical research, and eye care practice is led by the latest innovation and research

We produce and disseminate evidence based research

  • Our work highlights how eye care services, and the workforce needed to underpin it, needs to be supported
  • Working with government, NHS bodies and regulators in the four nations, including by responding to consultations, to ensure decisions taken reflect the needs of eye care services, patients and ophthalmologists
  • Understanding the priorities and views of our members – including through our committees, ophthalmic clinical leads and Council

If you would like to become involved in our policy work, or have any comments or suggestions please email [email protected]

Policy Updates

A photo of an excel spreadsheet

Cataract Services Workforce Guidance and Calculator Tool

Working with primary and secondary partners and patients, the Cataract Services Workforce Guidance March 2021 includes a RCOphth cataract workforce calculator tool Mar2021 to support workforce planning to meet demand.

Read more
An elderly patient with her carer walking down a hospital corridor.

Quality & Safety

Healthcare quality and safety must be paramount in all ophthalmic services and at the centre of ophthalmic clinical professional practice. Clinical governance is the system or process by which quality and safety are delivered and continuously improved.

Find out more about our work in this area