David Hewlett, FODO chief executive
Q How does FODO see its members helping ease pressure on the NHS?
Firstly, through prevention by raising the profile of good eye health, good hearing, safe driving and National Eye Health Week. Secondly, by driving forward universal enhanced primary eye care services, delivering IT connectivity and closing the gaps between traditional optometry, optics and ophthalmology. Thirdly, by opening up new NHS capacity through expanded community services and new models of ophthalmology care.
FODO itself will also be working closely with the GOC on the education review and the regulation of optical businesses to shape a better future. Furthermore, we will of course continue to offer our outstanding insurance cover to both businesses and individuals, improving standards and making people healthier, safer and more successful. Happy New Year to all Optician readers.
Richard Whittington, LOCSU chief operating officer
Q How would you like to see eye care commissioning evolve in line with your goals?
Developing the Primary Eyecare Company (PEC) model to improve consistency and professionalism is a major objective for the sector in the coming year. Consolidating and reducing the number of PECs to address the current NHS commissioning landscape of Sustainable Transformation Partnerships and Accountable Care Organisations is vital to evolve the LOC Company model.
The successful establishment of the Southern PEC covering 10 LOCs already provides a model for fewer eye care companies and Locsu is encouraging LOCs to embrace this approach around STP and multiple STP footprints. This will improve PEC professionalism, improve consistency of delivery, and drive down costs.
Henrietta Alderman, AOP chief executive
Q How can optometrists look to boost their scope of practice this year and should they see technology as a threat or an opportunity?
Technology is having a profound effect on the world around us. But what does this mean for the profession? We are already seeing the impact of machines and artificial intelligence on refraction and disease diagnosis – technology proven, through Moorfields Eye Hospital and Google’s DeepMind collaboration, to recognise conditions quicker and more accurately. Combine this with online retail and 3D printing, the future landscape is looking very different and the profession is fast evolving into an increasingly clinical role.
Technology, undoubtedly offers ever growing opportunities. But, at the heart of this is the ability to adapt and build knowledge. Practitioners should look to continued education – with a renewed vigour for upskilling in enhanced services, communication and emerging technologies in 2018 and beyond.
Christian French, AIO chairman
Q How can independents compete with the rollout of OCT in all Specsavers stores?
AIO welcomes multiples investing in OCT which can only be for the benefit of the long-term eye health of the public. It is, of course, the case that more than 1,000 independent practices already routinely offer the benefits of OCT and other leading-edge imaging technology to their patients. As a supplementary tool, OCT requires time for effective use based on proper training of the practitioner, and not just in operating the equipment, but also reviewing the scanned images, discussing the findings with the patient and agreeing any further treatment and on-going monitoring accordingly.
It, therefore, seems inevitable that multiples will have to radically change their business models to make effective use of OCT technology. As witnessed by the recent Which? research, the independent sector is already operating at a clinical level that provides great eye health care to its patients and the use of OCT is just part of that.
John French, SightCare chief executive
Q What are the economic difficulties facing independent practices this year?
For many independent practices, marketing will continue to be the biggest challenge, with the ever-increasing reliance on the web to reach new and existing patients/customers a concern for those who feel they lack either the skill or the budget to succeed in this area.
With the majority of web searches still conducted via one search engine (Google), investment into services like search engine optimisation (SEO) and paid advertising online via PPC have continued to grow. But, in the battle for getting noticed, independents will continue to feel the pressure.
SightCare practices are seeking advice and support to improve their organic traffic through higher rankings in search engines. Independents must continue to stay on top of new marketing trends.
Vicky McDermott, GOC chief executive and registrar
Q What are the GOC’s priorities for 2018 and how is healthcare regulation set to change?
Heading into 2018 we will continue to focus on protecting patients by promoting high standards of care. Alongside this will be prioritising delivery of our Education Strategic Review, review of CET and new business standards, plus the speeding up of our FTP process.
The Department of Health is consulting on changes to healthcare regulation, we will be providing our response, putting our case across for changes that will allow us to operate more effectively. We want to ensure that regulation enables development in eye care delivering that would benefit patients. This is particularly important at a time of such rapid and exciting change.
Bryony Pawinska, FMO Chief Executive
Q How will Optrafair and other FMO activities help the profession thrive next year?
Our members invest in continuous innovation to ensure the public is served by professionals who have access to the very best technology, from instruments and equipment to lenses and frames.
Optrafair is not only the showcase for innovation and new technology, but is also the place where professionals can access the expertise within the industry to develop their own professional knowledge and understanding. Moreover, they can keep their clinical competence up to date with a superb education programme which addresses the needs of everyone in the practice.
As the profession widens its role the industry is one step ahead, anticipating what professionals will require to provide enhanced clinical services in the community.
Fiona Anderson, ABDO president
Q How can dispensing opticians help provide enhanced optical services on the high street?
Dispensing opticians are extending their range of practice all the time, be it through CET, additional qualifications in contact lenses or low vision, or innovative new schemes such as Mecs training. It is often the dispensing optician who is the first person to speak to a member of the public who comes into the practice, and who will triage patients when they present.
Having a trained professional at this first point of contact enhances the patient journey in that they are seen and passed to the appropriate optometrist, CLO or medic as required. Each patient passes through the required appointments in minimum time and with minimum fuss to access the services they require.
Mike Bowen, director of research at the College of Optometrists
Q What research is the College planning to develop in the new year and how will this benefit your members?
College funded projects, such as the Enhanced Scheme Evaluation Project (ESEP), evaluate eye care service models and showcase the potential for optometrists operating in community schemes to commissioners. We will be publishing ESEP’s final outputs on the effectiveness of glaucoma schemes in 2018. We will also be publishing the next phase of co-funded myopia progression research in children in 2018, one of the largest ever cohort studies outside of Southeast Asia.
The College is also supporting a brand new National Eye Health Survey to provide critical, and missing, information about the prevalence of visual impairment in the UK, the results of which will benefit the profession in helping to inform better resource planning and allocation for eye health.