Role vacancy: GIRFT Clinical Lead – Ophthalmology Services
The Getting It Right First Time (GIRFT) programme is recruiting for a National Clinical Lead to focus on the improvement of ophthalmology services across England.
News & Views
Read the latest RCOphth news updates and guidance here.
Research funding opportunity for College members
The prestigious Zakarian Awards, which promote the value of research for all, are now open for submissions. Jointly funded by the College and Fight for Sight/Vision Foundation these awards are for early-career ophthalmologists to gain experience and skills by undertaking ophthalmic and vision research, which could lead onto further research or funding opportunities. Three ophthalmologists will receive a grant of up to £25,000 to conduct research over a 12-month period.
BOSU funding boost announced on Rare Disease Day
The Ophthalmological Surveillance Unit (BOSU), which runs the world’s only nationwide surveillance unit for epidemiological research into rare eye conditions, is being boosted by a new by a new grant from Fight for Sight that will enable its continuing support for UK research into rare eye disorders. Launched today, on Rare Disease Day, the funding from eye research charity Fight for Sight of £204,375, matched by the College, will support the BOSU for the next five years.
Taking part in BOSU made easier
Last month, for the first time since it went digital, the British Ophthalmological Surveillance Unit (BOSU) had a response rate of over 50%, and 31 positive case reports for the deterioration of sight following delay and sympathetic ophthalmia studies. We encourage all ophthalmologists in the UK to take part in BOSU. It’s easy to do and you’ll be contributing to this unique resource that advances knowledge and improvement of the prevention, treatment and service planning of these disorders.
New study on deterioration of sight caused by delay in review or treatment
From November, this study will be added to BOSU Surveillance. We encourage all UK ophthalmologists to report cases through the BOSU email reporting system to make the data set as complete as possible, making the study more impactful.
SAS ophthalmologist job plans need to encourage research
The Academic, Research and Innovation Subcommittee of The Royal College of Ophthalmologists would like to draw your attention to two documents issued recently, regarding guidance on Specialty and Specialist Doctor Ophthalmologists Job Plans.
BOSU launches research bursary of £6000 to support an ophthalmologist in training
To support the launch of our new digital reporting system and the expansion of the surveillance system to include trainees for the first time the BOSU is offering a research bursary of £6000 to support an ophthalmologist in training to undertake an epidemiological study of a rare eye condition through the British Ophthalmological Surveillance Unit.
RCOphth and Ulverscroft Foundation announce winner of the 2023 Ulverscroft David Owen Prize
RCOphth would like to congratulate Dr Ian MacCormick, clinical lecturer at the University of Edinburgh, and his senior author Simon Harding from the University of Liverpool, for winning the Ulverscroft David Owen prize for the best-published paper titled: “How does blood-retinal barrier breakdown relate to death and disability in pediatric cerebral malaria?”
Eye to Eye Podcast: Laser Pointer Maculopathy and Prescribing Trends in Glaucoma
This is the first episode of Eye to Eye, the podcast of The Royal College of Ophthalmologists. The first episode launches with two interviews recorded at the RCOphth Annual Congress in May and a special message from the Chair of the Ophthalmologists in Training Group, welcoming new trainees. We'll be hearing from Fahd Quhill, Consultant Ophthalmologist from Sheffield on his research into laser pointer retinal injuries followed by an interview with Jeff Hogg, a registrar from Newcastle who tells us about his work analysing prescribing trends in glaucoma.
GMC Statement:- Tackling differential attainment and supporting progression
This week, the GMC has published the latest data on the progression of doctors in postgraduate medical education across the UK. You can access the data via the reporting tool. The GMC has also produced a summary report. Tackling barriers that exist in medical education must remain an urgent priority for organisations across the UK’s health services, including all of us with responsibilities for postgraduate training. Fair and supportive training is not only key to the quality of medical education and practice, it’s also vital to help retain healthcare professionals in the UK.