15 December 2023

FODO Ireland member update - 15 December

This week:

• COSS fees no news
• CORU registration statistics
• CORU annual report
• New National Clinical Lead for Ophthalmology
• Healthy Ireland Survey 2023
• FODO Ireland's opening hours over the festive period

COSS fees no news

There has still not been any official announcement following the Minister for Health's commitment to increase the COSS standard eye examination fee and ensuring parity with the Department of Social Protection's Treatment Benefit Scheme eye examination fee.

The Dail will be in recess from today (15 December) until 15 January 2024. FODO Ireland understands the COSS fee review is still ongoing - we hope for an update as early as possible in the new year.

CORU registration statistics

Optometrists comprise 989 (3.7%) of the 26,501 professionals registered with CORU's Registration Boards as of October 2023, an annual increase of 3.9%.

Dispensing opticians comprise 213 (0.8%) of CORU registrants as of October 2023, an annual increase of 0.5%.

Over the same period, the total number of CORU registrants has increased by 7.5%.

Read the breakdown

CORU annual report

Despite small increases in the latest figures reported above, CORU's most recent latest annual report (released last month) notes the number of optometrists and dispensing opticians staying broadly level over 2022 and since 2017.

Read more about CORU's work and the Optical Registration Board.

New National Clinical Lead for Ophthalmology

The ICO has announced the new national clinical lead for ophthalmology, Ms Aoife Doyle, consultant ophthalmic surgeon at the Royal Victoria Eye & Ear Hospital.

FODO Ireland has welcomed Ms Doyle's appointment and looks forward to meeting with her to discuss the future of eye care, collaborative working and local optometry's role in the broader eye care system.

Read the full ICO press release.

Healthy Ireland Survey 2023

The Government's Healthy Ireland survey shows 36% of the population reporting at least one long-lasting condition or difficulty, with blindness or vision impairment affecting 15% of the population.

The report says that the most common issues resulting from a long-standing condition or difficulty are participating in leisure activities, using transport, working, and attending school or college. Also, 6% reported difficulty in going outside the home to shop or visit a doctor's surgery.

Policy makers use the data from Healthy Ireland Surveys to underpin policy development and implementation.

Read the full results.

FODO Ireland's opening hours over the festive period

FODO Ireland will be closed from 25 December to 1 January (inclusive).

Please note that members can still access out-of-hours support during this period. If you need anything, please email [email protected] - we will get back to you within 48 hours. If you email, we will also provide a contact number should you have an urgent matter that needs a same-day response.