14 May 2021

FODO member update - 14 May

This week:

• Covid-19 updates
• Northern Ireland update
• The Queen's Speech - Health and Care Bill
• Secretary of State Matt Hancock's local trust worst-performing region for ophthalmology waits
• Get involved - ABDO review of syllabus for the FBDO qualification
• Other sector news

Covid-19 updates

On 10 May the UK Chief Medical Officers recommended that the UK Covid-19 alert level should move from level 4 to level 3. They, however, cautioned that Covid "is still circulating with people catching and spreading the virus every day, so we all need to continue to be vigilant. This remains a major pandemic globally." Read the statement.

This reiterates the joint reminder from the College of Optometrists and ABDO about the importance of maintaining infection prevention and control (IPC) measures in primary eye care.

Also, following anecdotal cases of retinal vein occlusion (RVO) 28 days after the Covid vaccination, the Royal College of Ophthalmologists has asked UK based ophthalmologists to "consider reporting possible inoculation related cases to the MHRA using their reporting system". Read the College's statement. 

Northern Ireland update

The Health and Social Care Board has published its latest Optometry Bulletin. It reminds practices about the use of lateral flow tests, the importance of IPC compliance, an update on cataract pathways and upcoming webinars, and that Optometry Contractor Annual Returns are due by 17 May 2021. Read the bulletin.
 
This week, members in Northern Ireland should also have received this letter which sets out how to order lateral flow tests. 

The Queen's Speech - Health and Care Bill

As expected, the government is to make major reforms to the NHS commissioning system in England.
 
The Queen's speech sets out how the government hopes its Health and Care Bill will establish a more integrated health and care system and improve outcomes for patients, particularly for those living with long-term conditions. The changes will also give the Secretary of State (SoS) for Health and Social Care more powers to intervene.
 
Meanwhile, the Health and Social Care Committee has published its report on planned NHS reforms. The Committee is generally supportive of the government's proposals but has asked the SoS to confirm "that the statutory right of a patient to choose where they receive treatment will be retained in the forthcoming legislation". 

On planned changes to procurement regulations, the Committee has called for changes to be "implemented in a clear and transparent way" and said, "a framework of clear guidance and monitoring will need to be put in place to ensure that a lighter touch regime does not inadvertently establish practices that favour incumbents and excludes innovators."
 
To ensure there are more effective safeguards in place, the Committee has called on the Department of Health and Social Care to establish a framework that formally monitors and makes public annually:

• The proportion of contracts which change from year to year and the companies awarded contracts or which have had contracts renewed in each year
• The proportion of contracts awarded to small and medium-sized enterprises
• Value for money of those contracts
• The patient experience.

The Committee added: "Because of the importance of implementation, the Committee puts the government on notice that we will return to these issues before the end of the Parliament in time to assess how effectively the plans have been put in place. We will also ask the Secretary of State, NHS representatives and patient groups to return to the Committee on a regular basis to brief us on progress in implementation."
 
The FODO policy team continues to monitor and analyse proposals on behalf of members and the wider sector. Members who want to learn more can email us at [email protected].

Secretary of State Matt Hancock's local trust worst-performing region for ophthalmology waits

The HSJ has reported that patients are at risk of avoidable sight loss due to delays caused by the pandemic. The HSJ says that eye care patients are waiting more than a year in Matt Hancock's local trust. It adds the "East of England is the worst-performing region for long ophthalmology waits" and "Nearly half the waiting list at West Suffolk Foundation Trust was referred more than a year ago".
 
Bernard Chang, president of the Royal College of Ophthalmologists, told HSJ that it could take two years to clear a backlog of patients and that he expected "an increase in avoidable sight loss". He also said that the eye care workforce was keen to do all it could to prevent avoidable sight loss, but this required new investment.
 
In response, the Department of Health and Social Care said it has invested in a Covid recovery plan, and "the national outpatient transformation programme is looking at improving ophthalmology services, patient experiences, and access to care". 

Get involved - ABDO review of syllabus for the FBDO qualification

ABDO is inviting all stakeholders to take part in its review of its syllabus for the FBDO qualification. It is inviting feedback to ensure "student dispensing opticians are prepared for the roles of the future. The consultation closes on 21 July 2021. Learn more and take part. 

Other sector news

PCSE has said it has resolved an intermittent issue with processing GOS3 claims. However, if you are still having challenges with payments, please contact us by emailing [email protected].
 
The College of Optometrists has released a report highlighting its role in Forty Years of Research.
 
An international panel of ophthalmologists have debated how practices can best manage dry eye. Read the panel discussion.
 
Ophthalmologists are using AI to better understand and compensate for visual field loss. Watch a short video on those leading the research.