Search Results | The Royal College of Ophthalmologists

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Long Term Workforce Plan can boost ophthalmology but further clarity is needed

NHS England has published a Long Term Workforce Plan which sets out actions over the next 15 years aimed at tackling the NHS workforce crisis in England. RCOphth Policy Manager Jordan Marshall assesses the implications for ophthalmology and the unanswered questions. RCOphth and all parts of the health sector have long-called for greater clarity around workforce planning. The publication on Friday by NHS England of the NHS Long Term Workforce Plan therefore comes as a relief, with plans announced to increase medical school places from the current 7,500 places per year to 15,000 places by 2031.

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RCOphth evidence to COVID inquiry calls for better planning, coordination and consultation in future public health emergencies

We have provided evidence to the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges (AoMRC), which is responding to the UK COVID-19 Inquiry on behalf of all members. RCOphth Policy Advisor David Murray summarises the key points from our response, which recommends four actions to ensure UK ophthalmology services are resilient and able to deliver sufficient patient care and training opportunities during and after the acute stage of a future pandemic.

Dual Sponsorship Scheme

The Dual Sponsorship scheme provides an opportunity for international medical graduates to undertake targeted training in ophthalmology for a limited period of time. The RCOphth acts as a sponsoring body for these doctors to gain registration with the GMC.

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Call for action to improve support for children and young people with vision impairment

A new report ‘Children and young people with vision impairment: The case for transforming support and services in England’ has been published by Guide Dogs’ Creating the Future Commission, 2021.

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Task and finish groups conclude work to explore cataract provision and growing role played by independent sector providers

Following joint task and finish groups convened by The Royal College of Ophthalmologists and NHS England, guidance has been published on cataract commissioning, the referral and post-operative pathways, and training in independent sector providers.

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RCOphth webinar examines PIFU’s role in ophthalmology

The Royal College of Ophthalmologists last week hosted a webinar with King’s Mill Hospital Ophthalmology Department and NHS England’s Outpatient Recovery and Transformation team to explore how ophthalmology patient-initiated follow-up (PIFU) can be successfully implemented. The session, held following the publication of the King’s Mill PIFU case study and attended by almost 100 people from a range of professions, saw an expert panel deliver presentations on the role PIFU can play in increasing capacity as part of a wider set of actions, followed by an audience Q&A.