The North of England Ophthalmological Society Spring Meeting, held on 22 April 2026 at Haydock Park Racecourse, was convened by Mr Peter Glasman from Arrowe Park Hospital and focused on medico-legal practice and neuro-ophthalmology. NEOS is pleased to support trainees from across the region and here are some personal reflections about the meeting
Kah Keen Kong, GP ST1 Doctor
Department of Ophthalmology, Bradford Royal Infirmary
From a general practice perspective, the programme was highly relevant to day-to-day clinical work, particularly in relation to risk management, communication, and recognising serious pathology.
The medico legal symposium opened with Mrs Cathy McClarnon, who outlined key aspects of medical negligence and highlighted common pitfalls such as poor documentation and inadequate safety netting. This was directly applicable to general practice, where diagnostic uncertainty is common and clear records are essential. Mr Louis Clearkin then discussed consent in the context of the Montgomery ruling, emphasising the importance of individualised and patient centred discussions. This prompted reflection on how consent is approached in primary care, not only for procedures but also in shared decision making around treatment options and risk.
The free paper session showcased a range of trainee research and clinical work. Although many topics were specialist, there was clear relevance to general practice in understanding evolving diagnostic pathways and the importance of early recognition. The presentations highlighted the role of primary care in identifying atypical presentations and initiating appropriate referral.
The PJ Hay Lecture by Professor Stephen Kaye on ocular infections was a particularly valuable session. His discussion on antimicrobial strategies, including the concept of minimum inhibitory concentration and the use of combination therapies, provided useful context for prescribing decisions. From a GP perspective, this reinforced the importance of appropriate initial management and recognising when specialist input is required.
The neuro ophthalmology symposium was especially relevant to primary care. Mr Ali Yagan discussed acute neuro ophthalmic emergencies and highlighted key red flag symptoms such as sudden visual loss, double vision, and visual field defects. These are presentations that often first present in general practice, and the session reinforced the importance of early recognition and urgent referral. Mr Ankur Raj expanded on paediatric and craniofacial neuro ophthalmology, emphasising the complexity of these cases and the need for coordinated multidisciplinary care. This further highlighted the GP role in early identification and navigation of care pathways. Overall, the meeting was highly relevant to general practice. It strengthened awareness of medico legal principles, improved understanding of consultation and consent, and reinforced recognition of serious ophthalmic conditions. I left the meeting with a clearer and more structured approach to assessing eye related presentations and greater confidence in identifying cases that require urgent specialist input
Marwan Tahoun, FY1 Manchester Royal Infirmary, Thomas McNally, ST4, Royal Victoria Infirmary
Convened by Mr Peter Glasman of Arrowe Park Hospital and held under bright spring sunshine, the day offered a packed agenda spanning the medico-legal to the microbial. With cutting-edge research, lively case discussions and networking, the meeting reaffirmed why NEOS continues to set such a high standard for regional ophthalmic education. Proceedings were opened with a warm welcome before the morning session got under way.
The morning: medico-legal foundations
Mr Glasman chaired a thought-provoking opening session on the medico-legal landscape facing modern ophthalmologists. Mrs Cathy McClarnon, Legal Services Manager at Arrowe Park Hospital, gave a standout overview of medical negligence in the speciality. With a national average indemnity contribution of just £94.19 per ophthalmic patient, her data was a striking reminder of how relatively safe ophthalmology is, but also how seriously the speciality has to take the cases that do arise. Drawing on over 30 years of experience, she reported that only 41% of cases at her trust were closed with both a breach of duty and admission of causation, around 35% of cases reach closure overall, and fewer than 1% of claims ever progress to trial. Of those that do, an impressive 86% are won on behalf of the NHS. Her clear, evidence-led delivery set the tone for the rest of the morning.
Mr Louis Clearkin of the Royal Free Hospital followed with a thoughtful address on the legal principles of consent. He traced the evolution of practice from Bolitho through to Montgomery, weaving in the modern doctrine surrounding informed consent and the renewed emphasis on shared decision-making and patient autonomy. Carefully chosen case vignettes from ophthalmic practice brought the legal principles to life and prompted a lively discussion among delegates, many of whom recognised their own dilemmas in the scenarios raised.
After refreshments at the trade exhibition, attention turned to the NEOS annual free paper competition, moderated by Mr Steve Winder, Royal Hallamshire Hospital, Sheffield. The standard of trainee research was very high. Highlights included a systematic review of vitreoretinal surgery outcomes for familial exudative vitreoretinopathy, real-world paediatric outcomes of voretigene neparvovec for RPE65-mediated retinal dystrophy, and a service redesign proposal for a virtual, community-integrated keratoconus pathway. The session was a strong showcase of the calibre of trainees coming through the deaneries.
Afternoon session: from microbes to the brain
After a hearty lunch, delegates returned for the NEOS AGM, led by honorary secretary Mr Jon Bhargava, during which Mrs Deepali Varma was warmly congratulated on her appointment as the next President of NEOS. The traditional NEOS travel award of £600 was announced, alongside the eagerly anticipated trainee essay prize, both of which continue to support research and learning across the region.
The afternoon then opened in earnest with the PJ Hay Lecture, delivered by Professor Stephen Kaye of the Royal Liverpool University Hospital, on ‘Milestones in the treatment of ocular infections’. With characteristic charm, and the wry reminder that “all animal eyes are infected equally”, Prof Kaye guided us through a generation of progress in ocular microbiology. He stressed the role of the corneal scrape and anterior chamber tap in securing a diagnosis, the importance of minimum inhibitory concentrations in directing therapy, and the surprising therapeutic potential of agents such as zinc pyrithione, bismuth and polymyxin B in tackling Pseudomonas and its exotoxin U. It was a memorable lecture that bridged bench and bedside, and a fitting headline for the meeting.
Mr Michael Beech of Wirral University Teaching Hospital chaired the closing session on neuro-ophthalmology. Mr Ali Yagan of Manchester Royal Eye Hospital led an interactive masterclass on neuro-ophthalmic emergencies, covering neuromyelitis optica and giant cell arteritis among others, and reinforcing the cardinal rule that CT angiography is mandatory in any third nerve palsy, regardless of pain or pupil involvement. Mr Ankur Raj of Alder Hey Children’s Hospital followed with an engaging, well-illustrated talk on craniofacial and paediatric neuro-ophthalmology. He explored the orbital implications of conditions such as Treacher Collins and Muenke syndrome, the under-appreciated impact of hyperglobus on surgical planning in craniosynostosis and shared a memorable case of progressive canthal involvement in neurofibromatosis. His own protocol for craniofacial surgical planning, generously shared with delegates, drew strong agreement that it merited wider dissemination.
The Spring 2026 NEOS meeting was a resounding success, offering a full day of clinical insight, surgical innovation and professional exchange. Delegates departed already looking ahead to the Autumn meeting, which promises another excellent programme of learning and collaboration.