The biggest difference between NHS Wales and NHS England is that our health care services are not commissioned. Welsh Government (WG) provides our funding which is divided between the Health Boards using the Barnett formula. Funding within Health Boards is then allocated to the separate Divisions and Directorates in the organisation. We are very fortunate that Orthoptists have direct access to WG through groups and work streams that shape eye care in Wales. These eye care groups and committees are a collaboration between WG officials, Orthoptists, Optometrists,
Ophthalmologists and Third Sector organisations.

One of the products of this collaboration is the children’s vision screening pathway, which has been mandated in Wales since 2015 and we report KPIs back to WG. Multidisciplinary working has also helped to develop Orthoptic extended roles in some Health Boards for example glaucoma services, administering Botox for hemifacial and blepharospasm, and reviewing and injecting in medical retinal clinics. The success of these roles means that learning can be shared across Wales and hopefully will encourage other Health Boards to utilise their Orthoptists. We have a close network of Orthoptists but can struggle to fill vacant posts. I would welcome any one who may be considering working in Wales to apply for positions; it is a great place to work and, in many ways, forward-thinking in planning eye care services. Welsh Orthoptists have recently written an accredited training programme for HCSWs and nurses entitled “Diploma in Fundamentals of Ophthalmology” designed to be taught in-service and eventually rolled out across Wales. In addition, several Orthoptists from Singleton Hospital have recently completed the Postgraduate Medical Retina Module with the Wales Optometry Postgraduate Education Centre (WOPEC).

Aimee Brown

Trustee for Wales