11 September 2020

FODO’s Friday roundup – sector news - 11 September

This week's news

• College of Optometrists updates Covid-19 guidance
• Updates - Education and training
• GOC statement on service of registration notices
• Sight tests vital, says Minister
• NICE rapid guideline on Covid-19 testing and routine cataract surgery
• Charities join forces to investigate diabetic eye disease and Covid-19
• Vision Aid Overseas to close recycling scheme
• LOCSU to support PECs as Cegedim Rx withdraws from UK market
• DHSC winter campaign to reduce Covid risk
• Notice of FODO AGM

College of Optometrists updates Covid-19 guidance 

The College of Optometrists has updated its Covid-19 guidance, following a sector roundtable in which FODO took part on 29 July. It now simplifies the information previously included in its pandemic guidance into:

1. General guidance - which applies throughout the pandemic. Supported by more detailed guidance 

2. The details of each phase, including what it means and the services you can provide:  

• Red phase 
• Amber phase
• Green phase. 

If members have any questions about this guidance, they can get in touch by emailing [email protected].      

Updates - Education and training 

We advise members that the College is posting regular updates on Covid-19 and the Scheme for Registration. The latest update, 10 September, confirms that stage two assessments for pre-registration trainees can begin from today, Friday 11 September. Keep up to date with the scheme during Covid. 

This week the GOC also updated its May statement on education provision and approach to activity during Covid-19. Read the updated version.   

GOC statement on service of registration notices 

The GOC has described how it will manage registration notices during the Covid-19 pandemic. This sets out how the GOC has moved to serve all notices and other communications electronically. The exception to this rule is the notice of Registrar's decision to remove a registrant from the register, which will continue to be served by recorded delivery and email. Read more. 

Sight tests vital, says Minister 

Jo Churchill, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), has explained that the NHS sight test are "a vital eye health check" and an essential part of preventing sight loss in England. 

She also set out how NHS England and NHS Improvement's national outpatient transformation programme aims to improve secondary care ophthalmology outpatient services, patient experience, access to eye care and outcomes. 

Read the full correspondence. 

FODO is working with other sector partners on the national outpatient restoration and transformation programme to help achieve these goals. We will keep members up to date via our member newsletters. In the meantime, if you have any questions about the outpatient transformation in England, please email them to [email protected].   

NICE rapid guideline on Covid-19 testing and routine cataract surgery 

The Royal College of Ophthalmologists has written to NICE following the publication of Covid-19 rapid guideline: arranging planned care in hospitals and diagnostic services in July. 

The College expresses concerns that the NICE guideline might have an adverse effect on the return to routine cataract surgery. The College draws attention to the NICE requirement for patients to:  

• Follow comprehensive social distancing and hand-hygiene measures for 14 days before admission
• Have a test for SARS CoV 2 within three days before admission and self-isolate from the day of the test until the day of admission.

It points out that although the benefits of testing asymptomatic patients are unclear, the NICE guideline could lead providers to mandate pre-operative Covid-19 testing for all cataract patients, which in turn could make it more difficult to restore routine services. 

The Royal College is now in discussions with NICE, hoping that clearer guidance will emerge to allow ophthalmologists and local providers better to manage risks for cataract surgery during the pandemic. 

Read the full Royal College statement.    

Charities join forces to investigate diabetic eye disease and Covid-19 

Fight for Sight and Diabetes UK are to investigate whether people with diabetic retinopathy (DR) are at greater risk of developing complications from Covid-19. The University of Edinburgh will investigate whether people with DR experience worse outcomes following Covid-19. Learn more.  

Vision Aid Overseas to close recycling scheme 

Vision Aid Overseas has ended its recycling scheme in the UK and will no longer accept used spectacles from the optical sector. The 10-year-old system, which used to recycle 3.2 million spectacles a year, is no longer economically viable for the charity. Read the charity's detailed FAQS about what to do next if you were planning to use its service.  

LOCSU supporting LOCs and PECs as Cegedim Rx withdraws from UK market 

Cegedim Rx, the provider of OptoManager, is to withdraw from the UK market following a 10-year relationship with LOCSU and England's primary eyecare companies (PECs). This means some PECs will need an alternative IT platform. LOCSU has confirmed it is supporting PECs and LOCs, where needed, with the decision-making process to identify IT systems which best suit their individual needs. 

Read the LOCSU press release.  

DHSC winter campaign to reduce Covid risk 

The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has announced a new campaign which aims to help "prevent the spread of coronavirus indoors this winter" in England. The 'Hands. Face. Space' information campaign will focus on encouraging compliance with core infection prevention procedures. You can now also access a video and other advertising assets. Learn more.  

Notice of FODO AGM 

The FODO AGM this year is being held later than usual because of Covid-19. It will now take place as a virtual event from 15.00-15.30 on 13 October 2020. As usual the meeting will include the Chair's and Managing Directors' reports, a report on the audited accounts for 2019 and the election of directors. The detailed agenda and papers will be circulated to members in week commencing 5 October. To attend on-line, please contact [email protected].