facebooktwitterinstagramyoutube

News

BOSTU joins with health unions calling for direct pay talks with ministers

2023-01-11T13:29:50+00:00

Ongoing disputes make it impossible to submit evidence to NHS pay review body, say health unions. Health unions won’t be submitting joint evidence to the NHS pay review body for the next wage round while the current industrial disputes remain unresolved, it has been announced today (Wednesday). Instead, BOSTU have joined with 13 other unions – representing more than one million ambulance staff, nurses, porters, healthcare assistants, physiotherapists and other NHS workers in England – to call for direct pay talks with ministers. Unions believe the lengthy pay review body process is not able to deliver what is needed right [...]

BOSTU joins with health unions calling for direct pay talks with ministers2023-01-11T13:29:50+00:00

NHS unions stand #WithNHSStaff taking action on pay and staffing

2022-12-15T08:20:22+00:00

NHS trade unions have confirmed their support for all health workers taking industrial action on pay and staffing this winter. Health unions recognise the urgent need for pay investment to prevent more staff leaving the NHS and further damage to patient care. Despite calls for Government to address the crisis through an urgent retention package, Ministers imposed pay rises well under inflation, well short of what is needed to help health workers through the current cost of living crisis, and well below the amount needed to stop people leaving and maintain safe and effective standards of care While some unions [...]

NHS unions stand #WithNHSStaff taking action on pay and staffing2022-12-15T08:20:22+00:00

BIOS release definition on professional leadership

2022-11-28T11:47:46+00:00

BIOS and BOS TU have released the following definition of professional leadership: British and Irish Orthoptic Society definition of professional leadership Professional leadership for an orthoptist or orthoptists can only be provided by an orthoptist. Unlike clinical leadership or operational management, professional leadership requires in-depth knowledge of the profession and a link to the relevant professional body. A professional leader will have an understanding of the strategy of both the employing organisation and the relevant professional body, and have the freedom and autonomy to ensure the staff they lead work in a way which complies with both. They will [...]

BIOS release definition on professional leadership2022-11-28T11:47:46+00:00

BIOS joins coalition calling for investment in the specialist workforce

2022-11-04T10:48:09+00:00

We joined with a broad coalition of over 110 charities, royal colleges, professional bodies, professional associations, trade unions, parents and carers and others have publicly written to the ministers in charge of the SEND Review to ask them to invest in the specialist workforce for children and young people. With the UK Government planning to release their SEND and AP Improvement Plan by the end of the year, this is a crucial opportunity to campaign and push for this plan to address urgent gaps in the specialist workforce. The letter highlights that: A wide range of specialist professionals play [...]

BIOS joins coalition calling for investment in the specialist workforce2022-11-04T10:48:09+00:00

Survey on real world barriers and facilitators to occlusion therapy

2023-09-01T12:23:05+01:00

Amblyopia, also known as lazy eye, is the most common cause of preventable visual impairment in children, and yet the treatment does not work for half of children. Researchers at the University of Southampton are hoping to understand further the challenges experienced with patching treatment and are launching a survey looking into the barriers and facilitators to occlusion therapy. By getting some learned experience from a wide range of people involved in patching- patients, parents, teachers, healthcare professionals, they hope to improve visual outcomes for children. They would also like to get a clearer understanding of whether new advances in [...]

Survey on real world barriers and facilitators to occlusion therapy2023-09-01T12:23:05+01:00

Advice on the completion of DVLA medical questionnaires

2022-11-15T13:38:18+00:00

From 20 July 2022, the law was changed to enable healthcare professionals other than doctors to complete DVLA medical questionnaires following notification of a medical condition that may affect an individual’s driving. This includes Orthoptists and other HCPC registrants. The change in the law allows these professionals to complete DVLA medical forms following deferment by a doctor. The DVLA will continue to send questionnaires to GMC-registered doctors and consultants, and it will then be up to individual GP practices and hospital teams as to which healthcare professional in practice is best placed to complete the questionnaire. Orthoptists are also entitled [...]

Advice on the completion of DVLA medical questionnaires2022-11-15T13:38:18+00:00

University of Liverpool launch new pre-registration MSc in Orthoptics

2022-05-27T17:04:40+01:00

The University of Liverpool are now offering a postgraduate route into Orthoptics, via a pre-registration MSc. The programme has been designed to allow graduates to learn online and on campus in blocks. This will enable students to continue living at home whilst engaging in distance learning activities and attend campus and placement during specifically identified blocks of time for intensive practical clinical training. Alongside the MSc launched at UCL last year, this represents yet more progress in securing the future of Orthoptics, giving yet more routes into the profession. Course Details The programme provides an accelerated, 2-year route [...]

University of Liverpool launch new pre-registration MSc in Orthoptics2022-05-27T17:04:40+01:00

World Orthoptic Day 2022

2022-05-10T11:31:57+01:00

Find out what's happening and how to get involved this World Orthoptic Day, including the IOA's 'Orthoptists in the Wild' selfie competition. World Orthoptic Day falls on the first Monday of each June and is a day when orthoptists globally promote their profession and cerebrate the fantastic work they do. It is organised by the International Orthoptic Association (IOA), made up of 15 member national professional organisations and 6 associate member organisations. What's going on this year? As always there's plenty going on this year but much of the focus will be around the IOA's two competitions, [...]

World Orthoptic Day 20222022-05-10T11:31:57+01:00

Proposal to standardise services to support children with reduced vision during in-school screening

2022-05-12T15:34:29+01:00

The Clinical Council for Eye Health Commissioning (CCEHC) recognises variation in service provision and availability for children with vision deficit picked up through school vision screening in England. The Post-Vision Screening: Proposals and Recommendations report delivered by the multi-disciplinary Working Group of the CCEHC, identified inconsistent services and pathways linking children who screen positive for vision impairment during their school assessments to ongoing care with specialist diagnostic and clinical management services. While a number of local pathways have been developed in parts of the country to provide follow-on care, there are variations in how these are commissioned and delivered, their outcomes, and governance arrangements. [...]

Proposal to standardise services to support children with reduced vision during in-school screening2022-05-12T15:34:29+01:00

Fight for Sight and BIOS Announce Second Small Research Grant Award

2022-04-11T13:58:58+01:00

BIOS is delighted to announce our second joint Fight for Sight /BIOS co-funded Small Research Grant Award. The Award is up £15,000 over one year. This is a significant sum that could fund equipment, specific research training, research staff or time, or specialist services. It is designed as a stepping-stone to a research career in core orthoptic topics, or for small scale projects with potential for further development into larger applications to bodies such as the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR). The main criteria specify the successful applicant will be an orthoptist, with BIOS membership, leading or carrying out [...]

Fight for Sight and BIOS Announce Second Small Research Grant Award2022-04-11T13:58:58+01:00