As the voice of the profession, we work closely with our members, partners across the eye care sector and policymakers to improve public policy so key challenges facing ophthalmology services across the UK are recognised and addressed.
Since our last roundup, we:
- Supported the launch of the Welsh National Clinical Strategy for Ophthalmology. This work has been led by our Llywydd Rhianon Reynolds and should help pave the way for tackling the serious challenges ophthalmology services in Wales face. Our President Professor Ben Burton contributed the foreword to the strategy and spoke at the recent ministerial summit where the strategy was launched.
- Attended Westminster Eye Health Day alongside our Eyes Have It partners. We spoke to parliamentarians from a range of political parties about the challenges facing ophthalmology services and the need for a national plan for eye care.
- Met Northern Ireland’s Minister of Health Mike Nesbitt to discuss tackling the high waiting lists for patients needing an ophthalmology appointment, and to raise the need for a phased increase of ophthalmology training places to improve long-term workforce capacity.
- Attended stakeholder meetings regarding the launch of the government’s consultation on the 10-year plan for the NHS. We will be inputting into this work as an organisation, but also encourage those of you working in the NHS to respond directly to ensure the voice of ophthalmology is heard strongly – see here for our guide on how you can respond.
- Heard our policy asks raised in the Welsh Parliament, urging the government to take urgent action to prevent irreversible sight loss. The motion proposed by Darren Millar MS quoted, “The Royal College of Ophthalmologists estimates that demand for eye care services in Wales is expected to increase by 40% over the next 20 years”. One recommendation in the motion was to implement the National Clinical Strategy for Ophthalmology and commit to making the investment necessary to prevent the wholesale collapse of eye care services across Wales. We are writing to the Shadow Health Minister who raised the debate and other politicians who contributed.
- Contributed to the Pan-Ireland Ophthalmology Day where our President spoke to ophthalmologists working in Northern Ireland and Ireland about the work the College is doing to support ophthalmologists, and to the Westminster Health Forum where Professor Burton outlined how we can tackle ophthalmology waiting lists in England.
