ACPs have been positively impacting patient care for some time, providing increased access to the right care at the right time. With more specialist ACP roles emerging, such as the ACP in paediatric ophthalmology, now is an exciting time to join the ACP workforce. Experienced and capable Orthoptists, Optometrists and Ophthalmic nurses, who love working with children, have a lot to offer this emerging profession.
Successful completion of our accredited MMedSci ACP paediatric ophthalmology programme leads to recognition as an ACP in paediatric ophthalmology. Full funding for these Masters programmes is available either through the apprenticeship levy for our apprenticeship route, or through the NHS England regional faculties for advanced practice NHS England regional faculties for advancing practice Our University of Sheffield MMedSci programmes are delivered online and supported by work-based learning, through local mentorship from a paediatric ophthalmologist, who can help you acquire the new skills necessary to increase your scope of practice.
What does the work involve?
Capable and experienced paediatric eye-care practitioners upskill throughout three years of part-time online MMedSci study and gradually take on paediatric ophthalmology clinical workload. As ACPs develop into managing their own clinics, they begin to independently diagnose and treat a variety of paediatric ophthalmology patients, escalating care to ophthalmologists where required. Trainee ACPs (tACPs) study core and optional areas of the paediatric ophthalmology curriculum, chosen to suit their personal and paediatric service needs. The curriculum includes clinical topics such as: investigative techniques, blepharitis and BKC, dry eye, allergic conjunctivitis and VKC, juvenile idiopathic arthritis associated uveitis, inherited retinal disease, retinal imaging, electrodiagnostic testing, refraction and retinoscopy, detecting glaucoma, managing contact lenses, cerebral visual impairment, communicating with vision impaired children, optic disc screening, nasolacrimal duct obstruction, chalazion, surgical consent and surgical listing and emergency eye care.
ACPs develop skills and knowledge across the four pillars of practice set out by HEE, 2017 (clinical practice, leadership, education and research). Often the clinical pillar is predominant but ACPs are expected to provide advanced skills across all areas, such as evaluating and implementing new services and screening programmes, transforming care pathways and leading on clinical education, research and working across traditional profession-specific boundaries, always with the view to improving patient care..
How will this help patients?
There is an acute shortage of paediatric Ophthalmologists in the UK and the gap between patient need and Ophthalmologist clinic capacity is widening. By upskilling Orthoptists, Optometrists and Ophthalmic nurses in areas of practice where they make a difference, we can provide more responsive and accessible care to our patients. ACPs are expected to demonstrate a high degree of autonomy and make complex decisions; use their expertise and decision-making skills to inform clinical reasoning approaches; and initiate, evaluate and modify interventions.
We currently have 45 students taking our programme across three years of study, with first intake completing in August 2024. All our students testify as to the impact and importance of their role, with many patient comments received around positive tACP interventions and communications.
Could your Trust benefit from a paediatric ophthalmology ACP?
Many NHS Trusts have struggled to recruit a paediatric ophthalmologist in recent years, as shown by the 2022 Royal College of Ophthalmologists workforce census
Many patients currently seen by paediatric ophthalmologists, could be successfully managed within an ACP clinic, freeing up consultant time to deal with more complex, challenging and surgical cases. ACPs receive much education in clinical leadership, education and research in ophthalmology which equips them to evaluate current pathways and models of care and implement and drive much needed interventions, for a more transformational and compassionate approach to patient care.
What our students say
“Training as an ACP in paediatric ophthalmology at Sheffield has offered me great opportunities to learn and develop as part of the ophthalmic team. I’ve enjoyed discussions with fellow trainee ACPs, and relished the opportunities to learn from qualified ACPs and Orthoptists leading the way to expand the Orthoptic role in leadership and education as well as clinical aspects. I have also benefited from discussion with students further on in their ACP and would encourage other Orthoptists, Optometrists and ophthalmic nurses to consider how the specialised ACP in paediatric ophthalmology course could support their career journey.” Kate Hon (2nd year tACP in paediatric ophthalmology)
“I’m approaching the end of the course and I am starting to make a big, positive impact in clinic, which helps spur me forward through the more challenging aspects of the course. I am now able to autonomously diagnose and manage a range of paediatric patients. As such, numbers seen in our paediatric ophthalmology clinics have increased by 6 per clinic, meaning approximately 600 extra patients are seen each year. Patients and parents are experiencing streamlined care, better wait times and more senior colleagues have slightly less pressure on them. Studying remotely has allowed me to continue working full-time in the South West. Paediatric ophthalmology is challenging and has stretched me way beyond my comfort zone, but I love my new role at work and feel all the hard work has really paid off.” Emma Gilbert (3rd year tACP in paediatric ophthalmology)
If you would like to know more:
Please visit our web pages or download a flyer.
Join our webinar Thursday 2/5/24 12.30-1.30pm: Paediatric Ophthalmology ACP webinar
See videos of our current students: tACP videos paediatric ophthalmology
Dr Charlotte Codina is Programme Lead for the MedSci ACP Ophthalmology (paediatrics) and the University of Sheffield and ACP lead for BIOS.