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Moorfields and UCL Institute of Ophthalmology launch ophthalmic master’s course

UCL Institute of Ophthalmology (IoO) and Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and have teamed up to launch a brand-new master’s course exclusively for nurses and allied health professionals.

Launching this September, the Ophthalmic Clinical Practice MSc course offers nurses and allied health professionals an exciting opportunity to advance and expand their role and responsibilities within ophthalmic healthcare. 

As world-leaders in healthcare and education respectively, UCL IoO and Moorfields are committed to developing nursing and allied health professional roles. This new course could help nurses and allied health professionals progress into advanced ophthalmic practice roles and nurse consultant roles.

Professor Andrew Dick, Director of Joint Research for UCL and Moorfields Eye Hospital, said: “I am delighted to see the inauguration of the Ophthalmic Clinical Practice MSc. Together UCL-Institute of Ophthalmology and Moorfields are committed to the vision to lead in the education of our future healthcare professionals embedded in a research-intensive culture to improve patient outcomes.”

The programme will help address the need for advanced trained experts in an ophthalmic clinical setting. According to the latest Royal College of Ophthalmologists’ workforce census, there will be a shortage of eye doctors in the UK. Developing a specific master’s degree programme that takes nurses and allied health professionals working in the ophthalmic sector to a level where they can begin to perform advanced clinical practices will help relieve the pressure in this area of healthcare.

The mainly online ophthalmic nursing programme will offer working professional nurses the chance to advance their clinical roles while continuing in their existing roles. By the end of the programme, students will have acquired advanced knowledge about common eye diseases and specialities. The knowledge gained of current ophthalmic research will also help to further bolster their confidence when applied to clinical practice.

Students will also acquire skills in academic writing, problem-based learning and group work, independent research and analytical skills.

David Probert, chief executive of Moorfields Eye Hospital, said: “Our nursing and allied health professionals workforce plays a hugely important role in delivering the best care for our patients, and I fully support opportunities that allow our nursing and allied health professionals to build on this and simultaneously help progress their careers.”

Professor Nora Ann Colton, joint director of education at UCL Institute of Ophthalmology and Moorfields Eye Hospital, said: “I believe that the future of healthcare involves re-shaping and upskilling our workforce to assume new and expanded roles. I am proud to be associated with Moorfields and UCL that are world-leading in vision and eye health research and education.”

Further information: https://www.moorfields.nhs.uk/