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Policy & Campaigns

BIOS responds to the NHS People Plan

2020-08-03T06:41:47+01:00

BIOS welcomes the publication of the NHS England’s People Plan as further recognition of the value of NHS staff and the need to provide them with greater support. However, while the plan sets out some positive measures, there remains a lack of real detail on key issues, such as addressing staff shortages and the role of allied health professionals. The Plan offers up some positive measures to support staff, particularly welcome given the increased pressure many have been throughout the response to COVID-19. This includes further support for staff health and wellbeing, a commitment to tackle systemic inequalities and make [...]

BIOS responds to the NHS People Plan2020-08-03T06:41:47+01:00

New Video released for World Orthoptic Day 2020

2020-06-01T08:18:00+01:00

To mark World Orthoptic Day 2020, BIOS have released a video focusing on the advanced and extended roles of orthoptists. While orthoptists are primarily experts in the diagnosis and management of vision disorders and eye muscle problems, in recent years they have increasingly taken on roles that are advanced or extended beyond their primary roles. This has been vital to support the ever growing ophthalmology service in the NHS, a role that has become particularly vital as these services look to manage the situation around the COVID-19 pandemic. The video therefore introduces some of the common advanced and extended roles [...]

New Video released for World Orthoptic Day 20202020-06-01T08:18:00+01:00

BIOS joins forces with other Allied Health Professionals to call for the extension of prescribing rights

2020-07-06T15:17:05+01:00

This week, we joined with the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists, the British Dietetic Association, the Royal College of Occupational Therapists, and the Society of Radiographers to call on the Government to extend prescribing rights to our members. In a joint letter to Jo Churchill, the Minister for Prevention, Public Health and Primary Care, we called on the Government to use the opportunity of the Medicines and Medical Devices Bill’s passage through Parliament to maximise the impact of our members.  The COVID-19 pandemic has shown the potential for AHPs to take on new and extended roles to support [...]

BIOS joins forces with other Allied Health Professionals to call for the extension of prescribing rights2020-07-06T15:17:05+01:00

Child Vision Screening – FOI Results Published

2021-02-23T13:26:36+00:00

Child vision screening 2019 – services are available but still work to do! Orthoptic-led child vision screening aims to pick up amblyopia (commonly known as “lazy eye”), where the vision in one or both eyes does not develop properly. It is estimated that 1 in 50 children will develop this condition. Often younger children are unaware there is anything wrong with their vision, as they have grown up with and become used to it. If undetected, the condition can result in lifelong and irreversible reduced vision in the affected eye. A Freedom of Information (FOI) in request in 2019 by [...]

Child Vision Screening – FOI Results Published2021-02-23T13:26:36+00:00

HeartUnions Week

2020-02-09T10:57:05+00:00

HeartUnions week will be taking place from 10 to 16 February 2020. A week of activity throughout England and Wales that highlights the good work that unions do every day to offer everyone a voice at work. It’s a chance to tell the story about why unions are vital for everyone at work, and encourage people who aren't yet in a union to join. Every year it's a chance for reps and activists to publicise what they've been doing and make the case for union membership. In 2020, the campaigning theme for HeartUnions is standing against sexual harassment at work. [...]

HeartUnions Week2020-02-09T10:57:05+00:00

2020: Year of Vision

2020-02-11T15:56:10+00:00

BIOS are proud to support VisionUK's initiative to make 2020 a big year for eye health and sight loss. The year 2020 presents an opportunity in the UK not only to remind everyone about the impact of sight loss, but also to celebrate work undertaken both to eradicate avoidable sight loss and to support those living with vision impairment. We wish to celebrate 2020 and make it the ‘Year of Vision’. Matt Broom, CEO, Vision UK said “I am delighted to welcome all organisations to the “2020: Year of Vision” campaign. We will build on the spirit of collaboration that [...]

2020: Year of Vision2020-02-11T15:56:10+00:00

Orthoptic students eligible for additional payments to support studies

2020-01-20T10:46:16+00:00

Students studying to become orthoptists will be among those benefiting alongside nursing and other allied health students from a new £2 billion package of financial support from September, Public Health Minister Jo Churchill has announced today. In December the Government announced that all new and continuing nursing, midwifery and many Allied Health students on pre-registration courses at English universities from September 2020 will receive a £5,000 annual maintenance grant, which they will not have to pay back. Additional payments worth up to a total of £3,000 per academic year will be available for students in specialisms or regions struggling to [...]

Orthoptic students eligible for additional payments to support studies2020-01-20T10:46:16+00:00

Fight for Sight launches ‘20 Voices’ campaign to highlight personal impact of sight loss

2020-01-17T09:52:57+00:00

Eye research charity Fight for Sight has launched the ‘20 voices for 2020’ campaign, sharing the stories of 20 people whose lives have been impacted by sight loss. The campaign hopes to raise awareness of the personal impact of sight loss in the UK and the possibilities of science to make a difference. Fifteen-year-old Rose Roberts is lending her voice to the campaign. Rose was diagnosed with Stargardt macular dystrophy when she was seven years old. Since then, Rose’s eyesight has deteriorated and she no longer has central vision, leaving her severely sight impaired. Rose said: “When you suffer from [...]

Fight for Sight launches ‘20 Voices’ campaign to highlight personal impact of sight loss2020-01-17T09:52:57+00:00

HCPC to reconsider fee increase in light of strong opposition

2019-10-25T10:53:36+01:00

In response to 'the strength of feelings and the arguments' put forward by registrants, the HCPC has decided to reconsider its proposal to increase fees by 18%. The HCPC announced late last year that it was planning to increase its fees by 18% from October 2019, an increase that would have meant that fees had risen by 40% since 2014. This would have massively outstripped inflation and had a hugely negative impact on many healthcare workers who have seen their wages stagnate over the same period. BIOS joined with other AHP professional bodies and trade unions in opposing this unfair [...]

HCPC to reconsider fee increase in light of strong opposition2019-10-25T10:53:36+01:00

BIOS Respond to the Prevention Consultation

2019-10-17T13:24:01+01:00

BIOS today responded to the Department for Health and Social care (DHSC) consultation on tackling the causes of preventable ill health in England. We welcome the increased focus on prevention from the government but would encourage a greater focus on vision and eye care. We identify a number of areas in our response, such as child vision screening and orthoptic assessments for stroke and falls patients, that can have a significant impact in preventing both treatable vision defects as well as wider associated health issues. In particular we raised the need for: Mandatory child vision screening in schools and [...]

BIOS Respond to the Prevention Consultation2019-10-17T13:24:01+01:00