Our policies cover a wide range of operational matters, from advertising external content on our web site, from managing media enquiries to event and activity sponsorship. We work with staff, clinicians and our Trustee Board to ensure that our policies are transparent and inclusive. The policies are developed, and reviewed regularly, to ensure we retain our independency and our evidence-led approach to our activities.
Organisations may be interested in working with us, please view our Funding Prospectus.
Advertising educational and training resources, awards, seminars, courses and events
Our purpose is to advance the science and practice of ophthalmology, which we do by supporting excellence in the training and continuing professional development of ophthalmologists.
We collaborate with a wide range of organisations to deliver services, events and information that influences national eye health policy and benefits patients and the profession of ophthalmology.
We recognise that there are high quality external educational resources, awards, seminars/courses and events that may benefit our members and affiliates. We may share these on our channels, including College News, the membership quarterly magazine, EyeMail, our enewsletter, and this website.
Advertising educational and training resources
We use the following criteria to assess suitability of resource materials on and offline:
- There is likely to be an educational or professional development benefit to members or affiliates
- Publication must have no conflict of interest, or perceived conflict of interest, with the values, aims and role of the College
- No inappropriate personal information is present and publishing would not breach data protection laws
- The information is in a format we can publish, such as PDF document or web link
- Satisfactory permission to publish has been given by the creator, author or copyright holder
All educational resources submitted for publication will be considered by the Communications team and in consultation with any other relevant committee chairs and departments. We aim to respond within 20 working days of receipt of the request to [email protected]. There is no guarantee that a request will be approved for publication.
Advertising seminars, courses and other events
Each event and course is considered on a case-by-case basis. In some instances, seminars and courses that have not been awarded CPD points may not be approved for publication on our website. Please fill in the request form on our Events & Courses page and return to [email protected].
Please contact [email protected] if you wish to enquire about CPD approval for your event.
Advertising awards
We promote relevant awards and grants to our members. Please send requests to [email protected]
There is no guarantee that a request will be approved for publication.
Please note we do not advertise external job roles.
Keeping content current
We do our best to keep all content relevant and up to date on our website. We advise anyone submitting material to keep it under review, to provide a suggested review date, and to inform us of any changes that become necessary before that date if appropriate.
We may remove material from the website without notice.
Declaration of conflict of interests
Council members are expected to complete a declaration of interest form each June and to declare any conflict of interest at the start of committee meetings and to withdraw from the ensuing discussions, if appropriate. You can view a blank DoI form template here. For individual declaration of interest forms, look at Trustee profiles.
If any organisation, working in eye health, wishes to partner with the College and make use of our brand and name, they must provide a business case for doing so. We carefully consider the use of our name and branding (crest) to safeguard our reputation and independence.
Endorsement and permission
Endorsement and permission to use our crest, name and/or the form of a written statement or wording is only provided for a specific purpose and for an agreed period of use.
No endorsement can be assumed and each request will be considered on a case-by-case basis. We can only endorse activities in which there has been direct involvement by the College and the conditions of our involvement, including permission to use our name and branding, has been agreed at the beginning of the activity. Permission is very rarely given retrospectively.
In all cases, we will consider requests on the following basis:
- We are satisfied and in agreement with the quality, sustainability, relevance of the activity and that there is a fit with our strategic aims
- The organisation, group or individual leading the work is of good reputation and standing
- There is no conflict of interest, or perceived conflict of interest with the College’s strategic aims, values and role.
Contact
Please contact the Head of Communications & Engagement at [email protected] with details of the activity with a minimum lead time of 20 working days prior to publication or launch of the proposed activity.
All requests will be considered by a relevant College Officer and in consultation with other relevant individuals, the trustee board, the executive and departments heads. All decisions are final.
For all internet-related policies such as Confidentiality and Data Protection, Subject Access Requests, Legitimate Interests, Privacy and Cookies and more, visit our Privacy Notice page.
As an independent charity and membership organisation, we seek to provide content that is accurate and informative and in a way that the general public can easily understand. Where possible, we provide data and statistics from a variety of sources that we believe to be accurate and relevant.
We assess and respond to media based on the urgency and relevance of the enquiry and if aligned with our aims and if we are best placed, or able, to respond effectively.
We undertake to assess and, where appropriate, action media requests in a timely manner in order to maintain positive media relations, aiming to be proactive and responsive in our communication activities.
All enquiries should be directed to [email protected]
Press releases and statements are published on the News section of our website so that they may be easily accessed by the media and the general public.
For members and charities
The Royal College of Ophthalmologists is keen to help facilitate and support those who want to carry out surveys of the membership to obtain information that will ultimately be of benefit to our members or the broader ophthalmology community.
If you have an idea for a survey that you wish to undertake please submit this to the College using this Survey Application Form. This form requests:
- A brief summary of your motivation to carry out the survey
- Aims and objectives
- Intended survey population
- Proposed analysis and dissemination of results
Please return the completed form along with all questionnaires and associated documentation (such as covering letters etc.) or links to online questionnaires by email to [email protected].
Applications will be reviewed and assessed to ensure that they are requesting meaningful information and the aims are achievable. Wherever possible the College will support requests for surveys, however we may limit the survey sample where considered appropriate. The review process will take three weeks.
The College will administer the electronic distribution of questionnaires and, where agreed, send out further reminders. Everyone carrying out a survey of College members will be required to provide a report detailing response rates and outcomes from the survey including how the information was disseminated.
A summary of all surveys accepted for distribution will be published on our website.
The College will charge a £100 administration fee for all surveys carried out.
We will not:
- Share personal contact information
- Send out surveys on behalf of commercial companies.
- Send out postal questionnaires
- Provide address labels
For further information or to discuss a survey proposal please contact [email protected].