For those of you who do not already know me, I am the Orthoptistes de la Communauté Européene (OCE) also known as the European Orthoptic Committee representative for BIOS and appointed the OCE secretary in 2017. As a member of BIOS you are also a member of the OCE. The OCE is the spokesperson for the orthoptic profession on European topics and liaise with European government bodies and organisations and national orthoptic societies. For further information about the OCE please see the recently revised website: https://euro-orthoptics.com/
Impact of covid for orthoptists across Europe
Covid-19 has resulted in changes in orthoptic practise and training across Europe. The initial lockdown resulted in only emergency cases where seen and telemedicine introduced. However many countries have commenced clinics again. Some European colleagues have expressed how exhausting it is to assess patients wearing full PPE kit and how time consuming it is to do the cleaning required for seeing each patient. This combined with a backlog of patients has caused many orthoptists to work beyond normal hours. Countries such as Belgium and Netherlands do not require orthoptists to wear PPE kit anymore and orthoptic practise has almost returned to normal. This is in contrast to example Germany where facemasks are a requirement and other countries where full PPE is still needed.
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The orthoptic training have been adapted across Europe similar to what is happening in the UK. Theoretical teaching and written exams delivered online, and clinical placements and exams cancelled or postponed. As countries have eased social distancing restrictions it has enabled orthoptic clinical training and exams to start again although students, teachers and examiners have to wear appropriate PPE depending on their country’s guidelines.
Despite covid lockdown, Orthoptists across Europe celebrated World Orthoptic Day on the 1st June via social media to help raise awareness of the profession.
What are the benefits of the OCE?
The OCE enables shared best practise with other European colleagues and can support BIOS members who wish to seek work in different European countries or advise on recruiting orthoptists from different European countries. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact BIOS and I will be able to answer or take your question forward to the OCE.
Anne Bjerre, BIOS OCE representative
OCE secretary
