06 November 2020

Covid-19 news – Friday roundup – 6 November

This week we have kept members up-to-date on Covid-19 developments on our website and social media feed. Here is a summary of the main news this week. 

1. Opticians and audiology services remain open
2. FAQs on the national lockdown in England
3. New guidance for the extremely vulnerable in England
4. Economic support extended for all UK businesses
5. Financial support extended for locums
6. Temporary approval to suspend the need for signatures on ophthalmic forms
7. New supervision arrangements for pre-reg optometrists
8. Consultations update
9. Other sector news

1. Opticians and audiology services remain open

In our update on Saturday 31 October, we set out how primary eye care could remain open to provide services throughout the November lockdown in England. The government has since confirmed opticians and audiology services can remain open in the latest Coronavirus regulations. 

On Monday 2 November the College of Optometrists confirmed that routine appointments should continue to be provided and practices in England should continue to follow its Amber phase guidance throughout November. 

This is consistent with Covid-19 policies in place in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. 

This week the latest PCA in Scotland also set out the remobilisation of face-to-face peripatetic eye care, read PCA(O)2020(17).  

2. FAQs on the national lockdown in England

Members have been in touch to ask questions about the national lockdown in England. The FAQs below clarify the latest key points:

Can people visit us for routine eye care?

Yes. The College of Optometrists has confirmed this is the case. The College has also published a video guide to explain why this is important.  

Can we still access free PPE? 

Yes. Practices in England should order PPE for NHS purposes via the DHSC online portal. Practices can also contact the Portal customer service team by calling 0800 876 6802. There is no charge for supply or delivery of this PPE to practices. 

Can we still access free coaching and wellbeing support? 

Yes, you can do this via NHS England and NHS Improvement - free wellbeing support and free coaching to all primary care staff in England. 

When can people travel to see us? 

Official government guidance sets out when people can leave their homes. This includes: 

• Leaving home for any medical reason, appointment or where people are concerned about their health. This includes healthcare checks. For example, sight tests, contact lens care and hearing tests. 

• Leaving home to buy goods or service from premises that are open, including essential retail. Opticians are permitted to remain open in law and therefore people can travel to see you. 

Where possible, however, try and reduce travel by offering alternatives - e.g. postal services and remote care. 

You should also note that people who are classified as clinically extremely vulnerable to coronavirus are advised to avoid all non-essential travel during the national lockdown. Your triage process should take account of the Covid and non-Covid risks when prioritising remote care and face-to-face appointments. 

You can also access the regulations which permit you to open, see para 47 page 32 in The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (England) (No. 4) Regulations 2020.      

3. New guidance for the extremely vulnerable in England

The government has advised that people who are clinically extremely vulnerable to coronavirus should work from home. If they cannot work from home, they "are advised not to go to work and may be eligible for Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) or Employment Support Allowance (ESA)". If they were on payroll before 30 October 2020, they may be eligible for the extended Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme. 

Read the latest guidance on shielding and protecting people who are clinically extremely vulnerable from Covid-19. 

The government will also be writing to everybody who is classified as clinically extremely vulnerable to give detailed advice while the new restrictions are in place.    

4. Economic support extended for all UK businesses

The government has extended the UK-wide Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS), also known as the furlough scheme, to 31 March 2021.

Furloughed employees will receive 80% of their usual salary for hours not worked, up to a maximum of £2,500 per month, with the cap being proportional to the hours not worked. 

Read the latest HMRC guidance on the extended furlough scheme.   

5. Financial support extended for locums

The self-employment income support scheme (SEISS) has been extended in the form of two further grants.

HMRC has confirmed this will cover November 2020 to January 2021 and February 2021 to April 2021. The grant will now be based on 80% of average monthly trading profits, with a maximum three-month grant of £7,500. This amounts to a maximum of £2,500 per month, to provide the same level of support as the CJRS. 

Eligibility criteria for the grant remains unchanged. The HMRC is to publish more details on the next claims window in due course.   

6.Temporary approval to suspend the need for signatures on ophthalmic forms

On Sunday 1 November we updated members on the temporary suspension of the need for patient signatures on ophthalmic forms in England. Read more.  

7.New supervision arrangements for pre-reg optometrists

This week the College of Optometrists published its new supervision arrangements in response to the pandemic. The new system is more flexible for people supervising pre-registration trainees. It will apply to those registered for the scheme from 1 September 2020 and 2019-20 trainees who are enrolled but have completed either no visits or one visit only. Read more.   

8.Consultations update

FODO has responded to the GOC acceptance criteria policy for GOC businesses registrants. We have also worked with the NCHA to respond to the HM Treasury fundamental review of business rates and with LOCSU, ABDO and the AOP to respond to proposed reforms to the NHS reimbursement system in England. These submissions will be accessible to members on our website in due course. 

The policy team is now working on the GOC's Covid-19 statements consultation. If you wish to make your views known on these issues or otherwise to feed into this work please email [email protected].  

9.Other sector news

Dr Frank Atherton, Chief Medical Officer for Wales, has tweeted that 10 people lose their sight every year in the UK due to fireworks and is encouraging people to take steps to reduce the risk this year. The College of Optometrists has also launched a campaign to raise awareness of the risks associated with fireworks. 

Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have suggested the eye's cornea can resist infection from the novel coronavirus. The research suggests that SARS-CoV-2 does not appear to replicate in the human cornea. Read more.