Heartbeat: BMEC eyes non-medical workforce development

September 13, 2021

In 2019, the government and Health Education England (HEE) announced a £1,000 personal development budget for individual frontline nurses, midwives and allied health professionals to be spent over three years.

The Birmingham and Midland Eye Centre has capitalised on this opportunity to support the development of its non-medical workforce with a series of CPD events delivered by M&K Update Ltd and funded by HEE.

On 14 and 15 May, 20 ophthalmic nurses attended a two-day event entitled developing practice in ophthalmology at the postgraduate education centre at City Hospital. The course shared a great breadth of knowledge across a range of subspecialties within ophthalmology. It covered anatomical and physiological concepts of ophthalmic disease processes, principles of clinical tests procedures and an overview of treatment strategies in ophthalmic care. The course also incorporated opportunities to hone practical skills.

There has been encouraging feedback from delegates reporting that the event was engaging and relevant. 100 per cent of those who provided feedback said that the course will benefit their clinical practice directly.

Whilst HEE funding is limited to the ophthalmic nurses and orthoptists working within the ophthalmology, further CPD opportunities have been secured for the multidisciplinary team.

Charitable funds have helped to run the ophthalmology for HCAs course, which took place in June. Again, M&K Update Ltd delivered the training and it will support the future career development of our valued HCA colleagues.

There are plans for further HEE funded CPD opportunities over the remainder of this financial year. James F. Flint, Advanced Ophthalmic Practitioner, commented: “The funding budget delivered by HEE provides an excellent opportunity to promote the sustained development of the non-medical workforce. It will ultimately impact positively on the delivery of patient care within our hospitals.”