News from OSA Members Meeting – 20 October 2021

The OSA members’ meeting took place via Zoom on Wednesday 20 October. There was some great input from members and an overview of the meeting follows. We very much look forward to seeing members and guests at the AGM on 10 December in London.

Post Brexit MDR/UDI and related issues

MHRA Consultation

Ann Blackmore gave a presentation to members on the future regulation of medical devices in the UK. This presentation will be made available to members.

The MHRA Consultation opened on 16 September and will close on 25 November. This provides an opportunity for OSA members to help shape the new regulatory environment. Ann explained that the consultation contained 15 chapters, with multiple sub-sections. Not all would be of relevance to OSA members. She outlined those that would have most significance for OSA members: Economic Operators, Registration and UDI, Conformity Assessment and Post Market Surveillance and and Vigilance. Chapters such as Approved Bodies or Clinical Investigation may be of less relevance to members depending on whether the OSA response focus is largely on Class 1 Medical Devices.

In order to form the OSA response, Ann intended to produce initial drafts on each section to which the OSA would respond and seek member input and agreement. For some sections, Ann will need substantial member input, particularly on technical points. The key issues and what she needed from members would be made clear on the covering draft and email which would be coming from Marianne in the OSA office.

Members should expect the first of these emails by the end of October and after that on a regular ongoing basis until mid-November. Any OSA member who is able to provide technical advice on these subjects should let Marianne/Ann know as soon as possible. It would also be helpful to know if any members intended to respond directly and if so, if they would be able to share their draft as it developed or final submission.

A meeting of the MDR forum would be taking place in mid-November to review the drafts of each section after which Ann would be able to finalise the response and submit it by the deadline of 25 November. Members would be emailed regularly with any updates.

Sustainability and Environmental Issues

Jayne Abel, the Chair of the OSA Sustainability Committee, gave an update on the work of the Committee to date. Jayne confirmed there had been three meetings held which had proved successful with great input from members.

Sustainability will be an ongoing process and a continual journey and there are big areas for the committee to tackle; in particular optical packaging, lens waste and single use plastic. 2

The ABDO SEE Summit on 4 October was a positive event and Jayne gave a talk on the work the OSA is doing to date in terms of Sustainability and Environmental Issues and is hopefully the start of more work and integration between optical bodies.

An OSA Sustainability Committee ‘Glossary of Terms’ was in the process of being finalised. This will be made available to all members in the coming weeks. A Charter was also being drafted which would help provide a framework for members to adhere to in order to gain a ‘Green Seal of Approval’. The importance of considering having a Sustainability Champion in each company was also suggested.

100% Optical – 22-24 January

The Chair gave an update on work to date for 100% Optical. There will be free Lecture availability for all OSA members at the event. A full invitation will be sent out within the next 2 weeks. This will be free (and no stand is required). Members should however note that they cannot market/sell goods from this platform. 100% will also help market your lecture to delegates to gain interest.

We are hoping Ophthalmology will be represented at 100% Optical with education provided by the Royal College of Ophthalmologists and Optic UK members invited to exhibit. Ideally, this would be the start of other areas of optics being involved with the show resulting in a single large annual show representing all facets of optics.

Membership and Membership Benefits

OSA membership has grown this year with six new members signing up since February 2021 and three pending members.

Members were also reminded of the latest Membership Benefits available.

This included benefits provided directly to employees of OSA member companies such as:

•                 • Health Assured

•                 • ABDO Members Benefits.

Another member benefit is from HR Solutions, who are able to provide 1000s of HR webinars and toolkits as well as free and discounted calls and consultations.

The also meeting heard about our new partnership with Opchat News – OSA members will get a 50% discount on advertising and the suppliers directory of their new website due to launch in November.

Members should contact [email protected] on how to obtain further details of these benefits. 3

Property Investment

Following the sale of 199 Gloucester Terrace, the board had discussed that it would be good to get members views on how the funds from that sale should be invested.

The suggestion of a holiday let was not considered a good idea by the meeting due to one member company noting that there is little return on a similar venture from their company.

Other suggestions such as a lens testing lab, a warehouse or investment through a wealth management company were noted. It was decided a poll would go out to members soon to ascertain where the members would like to invest our surplus resources.

AOB

A member raised the issue of problems with many parcels getting delayed in customs and rising parcel freight costs, particularly with regards delivery to Ireland and receiving goods from Europe.

The Chair confirmed that there had been discussions with a courier company (i2i Citipost) who may be able to offer timely delivers to Ireland.

The meeting agreed to see if there is potential for a members sub- committee to discuss issues with regards to this. An email will be sent to all members to ascertain appetite for such.

3) The OSA AGM will be taking place on 10 December in London with the full details to be sent to all members soon.