Cardiff University and Newmedica partner for training development

Cardiff University and eye surgery provider, Newmedica, have formed a new partnership with a focus on developing a “pipeline of future clinicians” and upskilling current professionals.

The partnership has formed with the aim of attracting more Welsh doctors to specialise in ophthalmology and to support the training of optometrists, nurses and other eye health professionals.

The alliance seeks to help address recruitment shortages in the system and address the pressures of patients at risk of sight loss due to delayed care.

Cardiff University will continue delivering its established academic programmes while working with Newmedica to deliver new, practice-based training opportunities to satisfy qualification requirements and offer broader professional development.

This will include providing clinical placements across outpatient and surgical settings – including rotations and internships for postgraduate trainees and pre-registration optometry students.

This will also include more specialist training in areas like glaucoma management, laser procedures and surgical skills.

Professor Joy Myint, head of school and professor of optometry at Cardiff University’s School of Optometry and Vision Sciences, commented: “The partnership is firmly focused on developing a pipeline of future clinicians, while also upskilling current professionals to ensure the long-term sustainability of eye care provision in Wales.”

She explained that the partnership will create more placements to enable qualification, and offer students access to diverse clinical environments and career development opportunities.

“For the wider healthcare system, it represents a meaningful step towards reducing waiting times, improving patient outcomes and strengthening resilience in eye are services through a combined focus on innovation,” Myint said.

Training will initially be delivered in Newmedica clinics, expanding the ‘teach and treat’ model of Cardiff University.

Nigel Kirkpatrick, ophthalmologist and medical director of Newmedica, said: “This approach ensures that training is closely aligned to real-world demand and service delivery, benefitting both learners and patients.”

The collaboration will introduce shared performance monitoring through ‘report card’ style feedback systems.

“These will track learning outcomes, quality standards, and productivity metrics, ensuring a consistent, high-quality professional development experience,” Kirkpatrick added.

The partnership has said that further training opportunities for nurses, scrub practitioners, advanced optometrists and healthcare managers will be explored in time.

Doug Perkins, CBE, founder of Specsavers and Newmedica, commented: “We believe that through this joined-up service we can help health boards develop solutions that allow ophthalmologists and optometrists to work across boundaries, building a Welsh workforce that is committed to the long-term eye health needs of Welsh people – so keeping business in Wales, supporting the Welsh health economy with less need to rely on short-term fixes.”