Recently the The Royal College of Ophthalmologists (RCOphth) published the results of its 2022 workforce census which highlighted the extent to which there are NHS staff shortages in NHS #ophthalmology services. It surmised that it will worsen should immediate action not be taken.
“These findings paint a stark picture of the difficult challenges facing ophthalmology services across the UK. Despite continuing innovation in how we plan and deliver patient care, our ability to provide timely treatment is becoming ever more difficult given workforce shortages and long backlogs.
We now need joined-up action at all levels to ensure we have the appropriate workforce capacity in place for the coming years – at consultant and SAS grades, as well as non-medical roles that are part of the wider eye care team such as nurses, orthoptists, optometrists and ophthalmic technicians.” - Professor Bernard Chang, President of The Royal College of Ophthalmologists.
They proposed 5 key changes 4 of them are below but the most essential one in my opinion is to develop an #eyecare workforce plan, in collaboration with RCOphth and other stakeholders, to determine what workforce capacity is needed to meet current demand and future patient needs. But which of the following 4 should the NHS also prioritise?
Please vote in our poll on our Managing Directors LinkedIn!