29 May 2020

OFNC statement on the resumption of dental services and other updates

In this update

1. OFNC statement on the resumption of dental services
2. GOC launches consultation on CET scheme
3. Finance update
4. Government launches new NHS Test and Trace service - England
5. NHS surgery capacity might be cut in half
6. R holds - UK announcements

1. OFNC statement on the resumption of dental services

The OFNC has issued a statement on the resumption of dental services in England.

Read the full statement here. 

2. GOC launches consultation on CET scheme

The General Optical Council (GOC) has launched a consultation on proposals to introduce changes to its Continuing Education and Training (CET) scheme.

Feedback from the GOC's 2018 public consultation, Fit for the Future: A lifelong learning review, forms the basis of the proposals. The GOC is now seeking views on how to make the CET scheme more flexible and less prescriptive, allowing optometrists and dispensing opticians greater freedom to undertake learning and development which is relevant to their scope of practice.

The consultation closes on 20 August. Participate in the consultation at the GOC's online consultation hub.

3. Finance update

HM Treasury update

We expect an announcement today about changes to the furlough scheme and the self-employment income support scheme (SEISS). This is currently expected to happen at today's 5pm 10 Downing Street press conference led by the Chancellor.

Furlough

At this stage, media reports suggest that as the government winds down the furlough scheme from August, it might ask employers to pay between 20% and 30% of wages, NI and pension contributions.

FODO, the CBI, IFS and other bodies have all called on the Treasury to take a flexible approach to the furlough scheme and to support businesses through the transition phase back to the "next normal" as the pandemic progresses.

SEISS

We hope locum members will be able to apply for a new grant for another three months following pressure from MPs to extend SEISS to October and the Prime Minister's statement yesterday that we would be hearing more about support for self-employed people. However, at this stage, we do not have any further details.

As soon as we learn more, we will update you and issue additional guidance and support.

Other HMT news

HM Treasury has published data showing that over £8bn has been approved as part of the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS), with just over 50% of applications approved. This compares to £18.49bn awarded as part of the Bounce Back Loan Scheme (BBLS) with 79% of applications approved to date. Learn more.

Recession

This week, Dominic Webb, researcher and the House of Commons Library specialising in economic policy and statistics, published 'UK facing 'severe recession'. The report highlights how UK economic output fell by 2% in Q1, the largest fall since the 2008 financial crisis and before full lockdown was enforced.

The number of people claiming unemployment benefit also increased by 70% to 2.1 million people - the highest level since 1996, with the largest increase since 1971 when official records began. This is in addition to the 8 million jobs furloughed by 17 May.

Meanwhile, government borrowing reached a record high in April when the UK borrowed the most since these records began in 1993. It was only a little less than the UK borrowed in the year 2019/20.

You can read more in coronavirus: effect on the economy and public finances.

4. Government launches new NHS Test and Trace service - England

The new guidance means those who have been in close contact with someone who tests positive must isolate for 14 days, even if they have no symptoms. The new service applies to England only, with plans to coordinate systems across the UK.  

How NHS Test and Trace will work - someone with coronavirus symptoms

• As before, if you have coronavirus symptoms, you should self-isolate for at least seven days, and anyone else in your household should self-isolate for 14 days
• People with coronavirus symptoms should order a coronavirus test immediately at nhs.uk/coronavirus or call 119 if you have no internet access
• If the test is positive, you must complete the remainder of the seven-day self-isolation period. The NHS Test and Trace service will send a text or email alert or call within 24 hours. It will include instructions on how to share details of the people you have been in recent close contact with and places you have visited. This information will be requested online via a secure website or by an NHS contact tracer
• If the test is negative, you and other household members no longer need to isolate.

How NHS Test and Trace will work - close contact with someone who has tested positive for coronavirus

• NHS Test and Trace service will contact you if you have been in close contact with someone who has tested positive for coronavirus. The alert will come either by text or email and you'll need to log on to the NHS Test and Trace website - if not, a trained call handler will talk you through what you need to do
• They will ask you to begin self-isolation for up to 14 days, depending on when you last came into close contact with the person who tested positive. You need to take this step even if you do not have symptoms
• If you develop symptoms of coronavirus, you will have to follow the same process that other people who develop symptoms have to follow (as above). If you test positive, you must continue to stay at home for seven days. If your test is negative, you must still complete your 14 day self-isolation period because the virus may not be detectable yet.

Learn more.

5. NHS surgery capacity might be cut in half

The Health Foundation has published Returning NHS waiting times to 18 weeks for routine treatment: The scale of the challenge pre-Covid-19, which highlights how pre-Covid the 18-week target had already become challenging in some parts of the NHS, but now without a "radical intervention" to increase capacity it is not realistic to expect the 18-week standard to be achieved until 2024.

The Health Foundation adds that because of Covid-19 "over the coming years there will need to be long-term changes to how routine care is delivered, considerable effort at the frontline and potentially an important role for the independent sector if the NHS is to return to a position of meeting the 18-week standard. But even with huge efforts, the reality is that longer waiting times for planned care are likely to be a feature of the NHS in England for several years at least."

The HSJ also reports today that the NHS will only be operating at 50% of elective capacity once Covid-19 infection prevention and control measures are in place as services slowly restart during phase two of NHS England-Improvement's response to the pandemic.

6. R holds - UK announcements

With the R rate holding below 1 (0.7 to 0.9) all UK governments announced a cautious relaxation of some lockdown conditions this week. Here is a summary.

Prime Minister's 28 May statement - England

The Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, set out how the government's five tests were now being met and although R remained just below 1, England would progress with easing restrictions.

He announced, "limited and cautious changes", with the following starting Monday 1 June:

• Schools reopening to more children and a phased approach after that
• Shops reopening from Monday with outdoor retail
• Up to six people from different households will be allowed to meet outside but must adhere to social distancing guidelines.

As previously announced, he reiterated that on 15 June non-essential retail would reopen if the government's five tests are met.  

He warned there could be local lockdowns in infection hotspots and, in response to the public question about the impact this could have on jobs, said that nobody would be disadvantaged for doing the right thing

• "Where we have to clamp down [...] we will make sure we look after local people".

Scotland to begin easing lockdown from today

The First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, has confirmed that Scotland is ready to introduce the first phase of its four-phase route map from today, Friday 29 May. As we set out in our 26 May member update, phase 1 is likely to include "increased provision of emergency eye care in the community".

Next steps in Northern Ireland and Wales

Northern Ireland and Wales also announced an initial easing of restrictions. More detail is expected in the days ahead, and we will update members if this has any impact on the provision of eye care services.

You can read our guide on how to navigate out the lockdown to make more sense of this week's announcements.