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BOSTU members accept NHS England pay offer

2023-04-20T14:34:42+01:00

BOSTU members have voted to accept the revised NHS pay offer in England. In the consultation of all members working in the NHS in England, 577 members cast a vote, a turnout of 60%, with 80% voting to accept and 20% voting to reject.  The offer covers two pay years – an additional one-off amount for 2022/23 and a 5% wage rise (10.4% for the lowest paid) for 2023/24. BIOS had recommended acceptance of the offer, which came out of the pay talks involving unions, employers and ministers in March. So far, UNISON members have also voted to accept the [...]

BOSTU members accept NHS England pay offer2023-04-20T14:34:42+01:00

Invitation for students to present at the BIOS Conference 2023

2023-03-28T11:26:27+01:00

The BIOS Conference is taking place 22nd – 23rd June 2023 at the Europa Hotel in Belfast. Orthoptists and other eye-care professionals from the UK, Ireland and wider international countries, are invited to discuss new clinical evidence, changes to current practice, interesting patient cases, and participate in networking events. BIOS are welcoming abstract submissions from orthoptic students, presenting a research study or review that they have recently undertaken, or are currently undertaking, as part of their degree course. The student research presentation is a new initiative, designed to enable orthoptic students from across the UK to meet, experience the conference, [...]

Invitation for students to present at the BIOS Conference 20232023-03-28T11:26:27+01:00

CCEHC writes to NHS England regarding the Special School Eye Care Service

2023-02-27T10:31:17+01:00

The Clinical Council for Eye Health Commissioning (CCEHC), of which BIOS is a member, has written to NHS England urging them to commission a School Eye Care Service for children with special needs. Sent to: Head of Dental and Ophthalmic Services (Primary Care Commissioning), NHSE Deputy Director for Dental and Ophthalmic contracts, NHSE National Clinical Director for Eye Care, NHSE National Clinical Director for Learning Disability and Autism, NHSE Senior Programme Lead – Optical Commissioning NHS England - Primary Care Dear Colleagues, We are writing to you today within the scope of the Memorandum of Understanding between [...]

CCEHC writes to NHS England regarding the Special School Eye Care Service2023-02-27T10:31:17+01:00

BIOS joins with other AHPs to launch #PrescribingNow campaign

2023-02-20T07:58:12+01:00

BIOS today joined with other allied health professions to call on the UK Government to extend independent prescribing responsibilities to orthoptists and other health professions, to deliver better patient care and reduce pressure on health services across the four nations. The #PrescribingNow campaign is calling on the UK Government to use the powers it has under the Medicines and Medical Devices Act (2021) to extend independent prescribing responsibilities to dietitians, occupational therapists, orthoptists, diagnostic radiographers, and speech and language therapists where it is safe and appropriate to do so within the scope of their professional practice. The campaign is a [...]

BIOS joins with other AHPs to launch #PrescribingNow campaign2023-02-20T07:58:12+01:00

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

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

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+01:00

NHS unions stand #WithNHSStaff taking action on pay and staffing

2022-12-15T08:20:22+01:00

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+01:00

BIOS release definition on professional leadership

2022-11-28T11:47:46+01:00

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+01:00

BIOS joins coalition calling for investment in the specialist workforce

2022-11-04T10:48:09+01:00

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+01:00

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+01:00

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+01:00