News & Views

The FRCOphth Part 2 Oral examination is changing due to personal contact and social distancing measures required to contain the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Royal College of Ophthalmologists will be moving to a new method of online proctored exam delivery for its FRCOphth Part 1 and Part 2 Written examinations.

As the current situation with COVID-19 changes we are closely monitoring the impact on the RCOphth, its staff and members.  Staff are working from home and will continue to provide services to our membership and the wider eye health community.

Health Education England (HEE) has expressed concern about the service pressures that trainees and in particular, young clinical academics may find themselves in during the Covid 19 emergency. HEE recognises that the available levels of supervision and support in the clinical service may not meet previously expected levels.

We call on NHS England leaders to work with professional and patient eye care organisations to improve the models and funding of eye care services to protect patients.

The RCOphth has launched a new special episode of its Eye to Eye podcast ahead of the upcoming 2020 intake National Recruitment interviews in Bristol. This special episode features an interview with RCOphth National Recruitment Sub-committee Chair, Sarah Maling, who shares some top tips for those preparing for their interviews.

The RCOphth’s first podcast is relaunching on 6 January 2020 with a year of monthly podcast episodes. This new series follows the successful pilot series in 2019, created in collaboration with the College’s Ophthalmologists in Training Group (OTG).

Health Education England e-Learning for Healthcare has worked with The Royal College of Ophthalmologists to develop two new sessions that have been added to the Eye-Site e-learning programme.

In collaboration with the (OTG) Ophthalmologists in Training Group, the College is launching its first podcast series called Eye to Eye. The 30-minute podcasts will be hosted by OTG member Sunil Mamtora and will feature three episodes as part of a pilot series, released bi-monthly.

Since taking over as the Surgical Skills Faculty Lead in January, John Ferris, new Skills Faculty Lead and Fiona Spencer, Chair Training, have undertaken a pilot consultation process about the format of the Microsurgical Skills Course (MSS) with both trainers and trainees.