Wales Eye Care Conference 16th September 2016

Developing the Workforce Karen Phillips Head of Orthoptic Services ABMUHB

Why develop the workforce? Changing Technology 1970s Ophthalmologists looking directly at eyes Opticians providing glasses Nurses looking after post op cataracts for 2 weeks on the ward.....

2016

Why develop the workforce? Changing Demographics Gone from “3 score years and 10” In 2016 combined UK life expectancy is 81.2 years In 50 years, from 1960-2010, UK population increased by 10 million 1974 >65s =13.8% 2014 >65s =17.7%

Why develop the workforce? Changing Expectations Government- guidelines/ policies Public

2016 NICE guidelines Professional guidelines National pathways Planned Care programmes Diagnostic and Treatment targets Capacity and Demand time bomb

What to do? More staff required (More accommodation/equipment/financial input) Affordable Safe Prudent Principles “make the most effective use of skills and resources”

A multi disciplinary approach “working to the top of your licence”

Registered staff Different professional groups with a range of entry point knowledge and skills Post graduate courses In house training Local variation

What are we doing? WG working group Each non medical profession represented Working to find an agreed level of practice, competency and accreditation of training for the professions About to produce recommendations of standards and specific post graduate courses to reach these standards Maintaining respect for areas where the professions have their own expertise

Example To interpret an OCT for Wet AMD diagnosis and monitoring WOPEC professional certificate in Medical Retina

Non registered Staff Non registered staff (Health Care Support Workers) 41% of NHS workforce Large numbers involved in ophthalmology care across Wales Carrying out visual acuity testing, IOP measurement, OCT capture, perimetry etc Varying quality of in house training provided

Health Care Support Workers Framework has been developed as a skills and career framework Levels 2, 3 and 4 with specific education requirements will need to be in place by 2017 Great opportunity for us to up-skill our staff and improve our service Clinical skills appropriate to the role and underpinned by their relevant accredited education

Next steps We have already identified the tasks and competencies required by this staff group We will need to develop appropriate courses to be delivered in house Likely model will be the Agored Cymru qualification framework Lots of good work already done on this in some Health Boards

Conclusion Ophthalmology has undergone a massive technological change in the past 30 years Demographics and expectations have added to this to produce a daunting level of demand Wales is “on the case” developing a solution for a sustainable safe and professional workforce.

Any questions? karen.phillips3@wales.nhs.uk