David Hewlett, FODO chief executive
Q How do you expect audiology and enhanced services to grow during 2019?
Eye health and hearing are public health priorities. Yet service transformation is only really being achieved in a few places.
In 2018 NHS England Improvement said that the hospital outpatient model is obsolescent. Despite this, outdated ophthalmology and audiology models of care will be defended by hospitals while they continue to generate cash. This institutional bias for the status quo is likely to be exacerbated in England by the Long-Term Plan and the move to Integrated Care Systems.
We risk seeing sensible private-public partnerships being fractured, whilst arrangements at a local level become ever more complicated. On the front-line, services will continue to be starved of funds and whistle-blowers will continue to be derided for raising concerns. Patients and local stakeholders are unlikely to have any real idea of what is going on and services failures will be hidden. This is why it is important to continue to fight for a national demand-led sight testing and service, for community audiology and eye health services.
But there is some light on the horizon: long-overdue progress is likely in linking community optical practices to hospitals and GPs, the GOC’s Strategic Education Review may be finalised, the NICE guideline on hearing loss may be implemented and in Ireland the Primary Eye Care Review may also be implemented.
Richard Whittington, LOCSU chief operating officer
Q What does LOCSU aim to achieve through its eye care commissioning goals in 2019?
LOCSU is looking forward to 2019 as the NHS gets to grips with how integrated care systems will operate.
It is likely that there will be less individual service procurement, with extended eyecare services measured less by cost and more by patient outcomes within ICOs. 2019 may see the start of a commissioning landscape focused on health outcomes from local economy-based contracts. All providers and commissioners in an economy working together to a single set of health outcomes built around pathways. Primary Eyecare Companies (PECs) delivering services through optical practices will be expertly positioned to deliver care in this context.
LOCs will take stock as PECs continue to merge which will position the optical sector in the centre of the wider provider network for eye health services. For LOCs to continue to be local strategic leaders and PECs to be the local providers of choice both need to develop in terms of delivery, leadership and succession planning.
Henrietta Alderman, AOP chief executive
Q What are the challenges your members are most concerned about in 2019?
Going into 2019, our members remain concerned that the contribution that optometrists make is poorly understood by the public and politicians alike. Some worry that the profession is becoming devalued and many feel stressed by commercial pressures. The AOP will continue to publicise the role of the profession through its public campaigns, as well as promoting optometrists’ interests through policy work.
The changing shape of optometric regulation and education will be a big topic in the year ahead. We’ll provide input to the GOC’s strategic education review from all strands of our membership. We will also be closely involved with the GOC’s CET review and the ongoing development of the new standards for optical businesses, which are due to come into effect this year.
Christian French, AIO chairman
Q If the AIO and its partners win the DVLA sight tests contract, what do you have planned to improve the service?
We believe that AIO and its partners have a strong chance of winning the DVLA tender and offering an excellent service to the public if we do. Our very inclusive tender with participation by Vision Express, the Hakim Group, Duncan and Todd, Bayfields, Leightons and M&S Opticians, will offer the greatest convenience for the public.
Working with Smart Employee Eyecare, who have robust processes and software in place, those needing a DVLA screening test will be able to find the nearest practice which suits them best. For the practitioner it means they no longer have to send their patients to an optical outlet which is not of their choice.
We will also take the time to work across the partnership to gather evidence for how the DVLA should consider enhancing field vision tests for drivers of all ages. More frequent and rigorous vision checks could become a mandatory step in applying for and maintaining a UK driving licence. The AIO partnership is well placed to gather the evidence which can inform this debate.
John French, SightCare chief executive
Q How does SightCare think independent practices can keep themselves going and move forward?
In retail, we have reached a point where price and convenience seem to trump everything else. Independents need to bring back the personal touch and provide the qualitative experience, not a run of the mill shopping interaction.
Customers want to shop in a way that confirms their story about themselves. It’s the story about the experience not just about the physical goods or service itself.
Independent opticians should use pricing to create more value for their patients. They can use pricing as one of a mix of psychological and cognitive factors to create more value for people. They should structure their clinical and retail relationships right so that customers will be happy to pay more because they are getting a better, intangible experience from the whole process.
Dr Subo Shanmuganathan, GOC’s interim director of education
Q How will the education strategic review progress and what impact will it have on members?
The delivery of optometric health and vision services are evolving in different ways across the UK, with advances in technology and greater localisation of healthcare provision resulting in diverse and innovative practice environments.
Optical practice is changing and the shift towards a more elderly population is placing further demands on resources. Education and training providers must be flexible in responding to healthcare demands.
Our Education Strategic Review was set up to address these key challenges. In November 2018, we launched a consultation on draft standards for UK education and training programmes leading to learning outcomes we expect all students to achieve.
The five proposed standards cover patient safety and professionalism, accessible and quality learning, the design, delivery and assessment of learning, access to varied clinical experience and leadership, management and governance.
Separate learning outcomes have been designed for optometry students, dispensing optician students and contact lens opticians in training.
Andrew Yorke, FMO chair
Q How will Optrafair Exchange and other FMO activities help the profession thrive in 2019?
The exhibition has been rebranded to provide even more insight on the innovation shaping the world of optics, giving optical professionals the opportunity to take advantage of the opportunities available.
Innovation allows optical professionals to future-proof their practice in a rapidly changing industry. Opticians need to diversify and invest.
There’s no better place to exchange knowledge, insight and inspiration than a live event, and the 2019 event is widening its reach to incorporate fashion, medicalisation and optics.
Optrafair also offers an exclusive educational training programme offering CET points. An informed audience of eye care professionals, leading brands and industry newcomers will be exhibiting at Optrafair. Optrafair will immerse delegates in the latest clinical thinking, provide sound business advice and allow you to get hands-on with new products and equipment.
Clive Marchant, ABDO president
Q Do you support another three-year CET cycle to align with the Education Strategic Review and how are you lobbying for CET funding for dispensing opticians?
We are delighted the GOC has decided to revert back to a three-year CET cycle. It’s a sensible decision which will allow the GOC to complete the education review and determine new learning outcomes. We will then welcome the CET review and look forward to the progression from CET to CPD, enabling dispensing opticians and optometrists to expand their learning and scope of practice.
Looking forward, as we strive to advance the services that DOs can provide, such as the recent entry into providing MECS and the possibilities of future engagement with low vision and healthy living projects, this will strengthen the argument that we should be included in the national performers list and the entitlement for CET funding. Our regional teams have engaged with a large proportion of LOCs in England and as a result we have greater input into LOC CET events which are accredited for DOs as well as optometrists, in many cases funded by DO CET and free for our members. ABDO is committed to provide ongoing free CET for all its members at local and national events.
Mike Bowen, director of research at the College of Optometrists
Q What research is the College planning to develop in 2019?
Last year we granted more than £176,000 in funding for research into areas including visual hallucinations, vision and falls and indicators of early glaucoma.
We have funded projects that will be delivering outputs during 2019 on the long-term effects of anti-VEGF therapy in peripheral retinal function in wet AMD, rehabilitation needs and adjustment to visual loss of visually impaired people over time, and the genetic prediction of individuals at risk of developing myopia.
We expect outputs from our research into the experiences of people living with Posterior Cortical Atrophy to be published in 2019 as well. We also anticipate publishing a consensus statement on myopia management.
The College continues to work with partners across the sector in the UK and within the EU to develop projects relating to dementia and vision, the prevalence of visual impairment in the UK and to develop inter-disciplinary networks for vision, falls and dementia.