Unfortunately due to unforeseen circumstances we have had to postpone the Northern Region Clinical Meeting due to be held in Newcastle on June 25 2019. We are looking to reschedule the event for later in the year, when it will be advertised via PV and on the events pages: https://www.orthoptics.org.uk/event/ We are sorry for any inconvenience caused. All or or events are advertised on our events page.
Dr Lauren Hepworth, Research Orthoptist has been awarded a Stroke Association Post-Doctorial fellowship. The fellowship will start in September 2019 for 3-years. This is a prestigious award with only 15 being awarded over the last 10 years. As a result of being a successful applicant she was invited to attend the Stroke Association’s annual Amazing Brains event. The fellowship will support the validation work of the Brain Injury Visual Impairment Impact Questionnaire (BIVI-IQ). It is well known that visual problems can cause problems with many everyday activities and loss of independence. It is [...]
I am honoured to welcome you all to the latest edition of ePV. For those of you who don’t know me I’m not one to shy away from a new role. I started as Ophthalmology Services Assistant Manager at the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust on 26th November 2018, managing the Macular and Eye Casualty Services that care for patients from all over Northern Ireland. On 1st May 2019 I was voted in as BIOS Trustee for Northern Ireland, allowing me to remain involved in this fantastic profession. No doubt there are challenges ahead, but also countless opportunities and successes [...]
BIOS Member only content Your membership to BIOS allows you to see the content below when you are signed into the website Start date: August 2019 Reporting to: BIOS Chair and Trustees BIOS is pleased to announce a co opted role on Council. This is an opportunity for a new graduate orthoptist to be part of the advisory experts of BIOS and contribute to current and future developments of the Society. The current post holder will come to the end of their term of office in August 2019. This is a [...]
BIOS welcomes the publication of the Interim NHS People Plan on Monday and its recognition of the need to provide strong backing to the NHS workforce if they are to deliver on the Long Term Plan. However, the plan still lacks sufficient detail to show how these positive ambitions can be realised, particularly without any substantial increase in funding. In particular, we were encouraged by the continued focus on increasing recruitment to undergraduate courses in orthoptics, and other shortage professions. The orthoptics profession has already seen progress in this through the Office for Students funded Strategic Interventions in Health Disciplines [...]
Our campaign to raise awareness of Orthoptists and the work that they do.
To mark World Orthoptic Day 2019, we are pleased to announce the launch of a new video explaining a little about the work that Orthoptists do. This year, Orthoptist Martha Waters discusses the importance of vision screening in uncovering amblyopia in children. She then explains what amblyopia is, describing how it can be treated by an orthoptist and the profound effect this can have on a child's vision.. You can find out more about orthoptics in our public information section Find out about our My Eyes My Orthoptist Campaign, also launching on World Orthoptic Day [...]
On 3 June every year, IOA World Orthoptic Day is the opportunity to heighten the visibility of the orthoptic profession and to promote the activities of orthoptists locally, nationally, and internationally. This year as always BIOS will take this opportunity to increase awareness of the valuable work being done by Orthoptists. This year sees the launch of our long-awaited #MyEyesMyOrthoptist campaign, aiming to promote a greater awareness of the vital role of Orthoptists. The IOA will be running their much loved annual orthoptic-selfie competition. We will be releasing a new educational video on amblyopia and the importance of vision screening. [...]
The new AHP (Allied Health Professionals) Public Health Strategic Framework is launched today, by Public Health England and the AHPF, of which BIOS is a member. The Framework sets out the vision for the roles of Allied Health Professions in public health over the next 5 years and the goals to achieve that vision. Orthoptists in public health Orthoptists already play a huge role in promoting public health and continue to make progress. Last week’s AHP Public Health Impact Report highlighted a few of the ways in which they have made a significant impact. Orthoptists were instrumental in [...]
Congratulations to the first Orthoptists who have qualified in using the exempted medicines! The first ever medicines students have gained their qualification from The University of Sheffield and are expecting annotation on the HCPC register at any minute! They will be able to independently supply the prescription only and pharmacy only medicines exempted for Orthoptists, to patients. This is great news for patient care, for Orthoptics as a profession and for NHS provision! Congratulations to Orthoptists Louise Blackburn, Greg Richardson, Joshua Simmons, Haseeb Ali, Aishah Baig, Rebecca Bailey, Karzan Hughes, Sabrina Katharpermall, Olivia King, Faye Mather, and Sarah Spain who [...]