BIOS has released a new position statement to navigate the complexities surrounding the use of Medicine Exemptions as outlined in the UK legislation. Read the full position statement here. If you are interested in finding out more: Medicines CAG Read our full position statement here
The NHS Long Term Workforce Plan recognises many of the challenges facing the workforce in England in the coming years. We welcome the move to address issues with recruitment and retention but this will need to be underpinned with adequate funding, both to increase workforce numbers and to ensure staff are sufficiently compensated, if these plans are to be realised. Train Key points: Education and training places for the AHP workforce are estimated to need to grow by 19–25% by 2030/31. More than a third of AHPs could train through apprenticeships, compared to 6% now Increasing the number of [...]
BIOS is one of nine Allied Health Professional (AHP) professional bodies working together to support the growth and quality of practice-based learning in pre-registration education. Last year, the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP) and the Royal College of Occupational Therapists (RCOT) teamed up to develop a set of principles that offer a clear direction for creating quality, practice-based learning opportunities for both physiotherapy and occupational therapy learners (students and apprentices). Recognising that no profession works alone, BIOS are now joining CSP and RCOT, along with other professional bodies and will be coming together to launch a co-badged and updated version [...]
Last week, as part of the BIOS Conference 2023, we launched our new five-year Strategy, laying out our key priorities for delivering on our vision of a "sustainable, thriving and visible profession dedicated to the improvement of the eye health of the population". The strategy was introduced by our new Chair, Craig Murray, who took over at the AGM on Thursday. It identifies four key themes: Develop BIOS operational resilience; Lead the development of the profession; Improve visibility, recruitment and retention; and Lead innovation within the profession. In particular, there is a particular focus now on working towards independent prescribing, [...]
We're delighted to launch our new Orthoptic Support Workforce Hub today, bringing together all our information and resources for clinical assistants in one place. As the culmination of one of the strands of the Health Education England-funded Workforce Development Project, the hub already features an FAQ, case studies, and example job descriptions and person specifications for managers. Later today, we'll be celebrating our support workforce at an Orthoptic and Ophthalmology Support Workforce Webinar, where we'll be launching our Roles and Responsibilities Guidance covering levels of practice and recommended standardised titles. You can access the hub here [Some areas require a login] [...]
BIOS joined over 40 health charities, professional bodies, unions and the NHS Confederation to urge the prime minister to publish a funded workforce plan for healthcare in England. The organisations have warned the prime minister that his promises to improve the NHS will not be met unless the workforce crisis is addressed. The workforce plan was originally earmarked for publication in Spring 2022 but has still not been published. The letter, which was coordinated by the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy, makes clear that across all sectors, professions, specialities, condition pathways and services there are mass vacancies and insufficient numbers of staff to [...]
BOSTU members have voted to accept the revised NHS pay offer in England. In the consultation of all members working in the NHS in England, 577 members cast a vote, a turnout of 60%, with 80% voting to accept and 20% voting to reject. The offer covers two pay years – an additional one-off amount for 2022/23 and a 5% wage rise (10.4% for the lowest paid) for 2023/24. BIOS had recommended acceptance of the offer, which came out of the pay talks involving unions, employers and ministers in March. So far, UNISON members have also voted to accept the [...]
The BIOS Conference is taking place 22nd – 23rd June 2023 at the Europa Hotel in Belfast. Orthoptists and other eye-care professionals from the UK, Ireland and wider international countries, are invited to discuss new clinical evidence, changes to current practice, interesting patient cases, and participate in networking events. BIOS are welcoming abstract submissions from orthoptic students, presenting a research study or review that they have recently undertaken, or are currently undertaking, as part of their degree course. The student research presentation is a new initiative, designed to enable orthoptic students from across the UK to meet, experience the conference, [...]
The Clinical Council for Eye Health Commissioning (CCEHC), of which BIOS is a member, has written to NHS England urging them to commission a School Eye Care Service for children with special needs. Sent to: Head of Dental and Ophthalmic Services (Primary Care Commissioning), NHSE Deputy Director for Dental and Ophthalmic contracts, NHSE National Clinical Director for Eye Care, NHSE National Clinical Director for Learning Disability and Autism, NHSE Senior Programme Lead – Optical Commissioning NHS England - Primary Care Dear Colleagues, We are writing to you today within the scope of the Memorandum of Understanding between [...]
BIOS today joined with other allied health professions to call on the UK Government to extend independent prescribing responsibilities to orthoptists and other health professions, to deliver better patient care and reduce pressure on health services across the four nations. The #PrescribingNow campaign is calling on the UK Government to use the powers it has under the Medicines and Medical Devices Act (2021) to extend independent prescribing responsibilities to dietitians, occupational therapists, orthoptists, diagnostic radiographers, and speech and language therapists where it is safe and appropriate to do so within the scope of their professional practice. The campaign is a [...]