13 January 2023

New year message from FODO Ireland Chair

May I wish you a healthy, happy and prosperous New Year. 

We have much to do in 2023 - not least in the area of children's eye care - but we have a solid track record of success to start from. 

Last year many COVID restrictions were lifted and healthcare thankfully returned to a new kind of normality. Against the backdrop of the pandemic, we were able to demonstrate to government that we are full healthcare providers not just retailers, and we will build on this on 2023. 

FODO Ireland has also intervened with the HSE on unacceptable national medical card processing times, where waits were up to four months. As a result, the majority of routine applications for eye examinations and optical appliances are now processed within 5-10 working days. Similarly, late in 2022, we intervened about the major backlog in processing Optical Benefit forms at Crumlin, owing to staff shortages. The backlog has been cleared and staffing has been increased on a permanent basis to prevent recurrences.

Meanwhile, the FODO Ireland Board has been busy promoting your and patients' interests with key stakeholders, attending eye care conferences, liaising with the HSE and CORU, the Departments of Health and Enterprise, Trade and Employment, and joining project groups to develop eye care policy.

I would like to thank FODO Ireland board members Owen, Clodagh and Peter for their ongoing commitment throughout the year.

In December, Leo Varadkar TD returned as Taoiseach, who was a strong supporter of primary eye care when Minister for Health. We welcomed the continuity of retaining Stephen Donnelly as Minister for Health. We wrote twice to Minister Donnelly last year in response to positive comments he had made about optical practices during the pandemic, encouraging him to make better use of primary care optometrists and DOs in the future to meet growing need.

In March we welcomed a new head of policy and public affairs, Daniel Hodgson. Dan hit the ground running and has met many FODO Ireland members, key sector partners the ICO, Optometry Ireland and IADO, attended eye care conferences, responded to government consultations and, supported by consultant Gary Culliton, has started to build relationships with TDs, HSE and Department officials.

We have had a few hiccups though - our autumn workforce survey was hacked nullifying the results - we will look to run a more secure version in 2023! 

In 2023, FODO Ireland will continue to

• support you by monitoring the COVID situation and providing advice and guidance
• listen to you and the issues you raise and seek to resolve them
• represent you and influence on your behalf to improve eye care for all, your working lives and clinical and business opportunities.

To support patients, we will seek to

• protect the existing services you provide and ensure fair remuneration for State-funded care
• increase the range of services that patients can access in community optical practices
• continue to resolve issues that patients raise in accessing care
• work with government to ensure a fair business operating environment for primary health care.

To support both you and your patients we will continue to address workforce shortages through more home-trained optometrists and DOs, as well as immigration, so you can deliver more for patients.

Our strength lies in our membership, which continues to grow and we cannot do all this alone. We need your help to raise awareness of the importance of eye care for the whole population and the challenges and solutions we can offer in meeting growing need. We will be in touch throughout the year with updates and with opportunities for you to get more involved.

With very best wishes
Garvan