07 May 2021

FODO member update - 7 May

This week:

• Delayed payments update - England
• May Ophthalmic bulletin - England
• NHSmail update - England
• GOS update - Scotland
• Changes at Optometry Wales
• Wales workforce data
• Serious incident reporting - Wales
• Virtual clinics to support IP training
• GOC publishes business plan

Delayed payments update - England

If you have been affected by delays in GOS payments in England, please read our 1 May update. The Optician has also reported concerns about delays in payment for extended eye care services.

Each year FODO helps many members resolve payment delays, so if you are experiencing difficulties, get in touch by emailing us at [email protected]. 

May Ophthalmic bulletin - England

PCSE has published guidance on business continuity planning for online GOS, reducing rejected paper GOS claims, submitting pre-registration grant claims, and improving its systems (including dates when system use will be affected). Read the bulletin. 

NHSmail update - England

If you already have an NHSmail account, you need to complete the Data, Security and Protection Toolkit (DSPT) by 30 June 2021. You can do this by using Quality in Optometry.

If you do not yet have NHSmail but have fewer than 10 GOS contracts, then you can still access the fast-track process to set up NHSmail. If you have not done so already, you are strongly encouraged to do so before the 30 June. Act now.

If you have more than 10 GOS contracts or hold additional service contracts, the NHS is still trying to find a solution to enable access to NHSmail. FODO is working with NHS England and NHSBSA on this, and the NHS has acknowledged the long delay has created significant operational issues for practices. As a result, the NHS is proposing an interim solution to use the Egress system. Learn more.

FODO members who are still having challenges with NHSmail should email us at [email protected]. 

GOS update - Scotland

The latest PCA notes that GOS activity is now at 90% of pre-Covid levels, but this varies greatly at an individual practice level. For example, some practices have extended opening hours to meet patient needs and might be above 90%. If you plan to keep alternative hours - whether increased or reduced - for the foreseeable future, then you must communicate this to your NHS Board. 

The PCA also clarifies that for a fixed practice to receive average GOS(S)1 support for May, it must deliver at least 50% of historical GOS(S)1 activity. Mobile practices must achieve at least 20%. The financial support model will also be reviewed from 1 June 2021 onwards.

Read PCA(O) 2021 (06) 

Changes at Optometry Wales

The GOC Council has appointed Lisa Gerson as a new registrant member. Lisa will stand down as Chair at Optometry Wales to take up the GOC role.

During her time at Optometry Wales, Lisa implemented changes to the Board's governance, oversaw the formation of the newly incorporated Regional Optical Committees (ROCs), and supported initial contract reform modelling during the pandemic.

Optometry Wales will appoint a new Chair. Read about the post. For more information, please contact [email protected]. 

Wales workforce data

In a joint initiative, NHS Wales Shared Service Partnership, Welsh Government, Optometry Wales, and Health Education and Improvement Wales (HEIW) are conducting a workforce survey. The hope is that the data will provide an initial baseline dataset on the number and skills mix of the community optometry workforce. The survey should take about 10 minutes.

• Practices can complete this survey
• Optometrists and OMPs complete this survey
• Dispensing opticians complete this survey

Serious incident reporting - Wales

The Welsh Optometric Committee (WOC) and Optometry Wales have announced the launch of a serious incident online reporting form for optometry practices in Wales.

• Take part in WOPEC training - EHEW Incident Reporting
• Read the guidance
• Report an incident

Virtual clinics to support IP training

The GOC has agreed to College proposals for a flexible approach to meeting independent prescriber (IP) training. The Covid easement will still require trainees to do the same minimum number of hours in the hospital eye service or specialist general practice, but 55% of these can now be done remotely. Read more. 

GOC publishes business plan

The GOC has published its 2021-22 business plan, which sets out how the GOC will prioritise implementing new education and training requirements for optometrists and dispensing opticians, and a new Continuing Professional Development (CPD) scheme from 2022. Read more.