23 July 2021

FODO member update - 23 July

This week:

• GOS contract management functions to move to Integrated Care Boards
• Health and Care Bill update
• Joint statement on withdrawal of NHS SOP and self-isolation guidance in England
• PCSE updates
• US researchers develop automated OCT device
• Other sector news

GOS contract management functions to move to Integrated Care Boards

NHS England has announced plans to transfer all primary care contract management functions to Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) from April 2022. Today, the OFNC stated that NHS England has confirmed that General Ophthalmic Services (GOS) will remain a national contract with terms, fees, and grants negotiated nationally. Read the OFNC statement.

Members should note that plans to transfer primary care contract management functions from NHS England to integrated care systems were first noted in:

• The NHS's recommendations to Government and Parliament for an NHS Bill, NHS England, September 2019
• Legislating for Integrated Care Systems: five recommendations to Government and Parliament, NHS England, 11 February 2021
• White Paper, Working Together to improve health and social care for all, DHSC, 11 February 2021
• Integrated Care Systems - Design framework, NHS England, 16 June 2021.

The Health and Care Bill 2021-22 (introduced into Parliament on 6 July 2021) contains powers to effect the transfer; now scheduled for Commons Committee stage in September 2021.
 
If you have any questions about proposed changes, please email us. 

Health and Care Bill update

The government has announced plans for boundary changes when over 100 CCGs in England transition to 42 Integrated Care Systems (ICSs). The review considered six regions, with changes planned in Glossop, Bassetlaw, West Birmingham and North Northamptonshire. There are also plans for the Secretary of State to review Cumbria and North Yorkshire.

Members of the Public Bill Committee have also now been announced, and include Edward Argar (Health Minister) and Jo Churchill (Prevention, Public Health and Primary Care Minister).

The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has published a policy paper on reforms to NHS payment scheme. It confirms the longstanding aim to repeal existing legislation supporting the national tariff and introduce a new NHS payment scheme. This reform will change how many ophthalmology departments are reimbursed, although many hospitals have already migrated to new payment models in recent years.

This paper also highlights how primary care contracts are an example of how choice and competition can be used in a targeted way to benefit patients by "competition within the market rather than competition for the market".
 
We continue to monitor and analyse the Bill's progress on members' behalf. At this stage, if you have any questions, please email us. 

Joint statement on withdrawal of NHS SOP and self-isolation guidance in England

Earlier this week, we issued a joint statement with sector partners on the importance of maintaining robust infection, prevention and control (IPC) measures during this phase of the pandemic, despite NHS England withdrawing its Covid-19 SOP. We also confirmed that self-isolation exemptions in England are unlikely to apply in primary eye care settings at this time. Read the complete statement.

We will continue to work with sector partners and keep you up to date on developments. So if you have any questions do get in touch in the usual way. 

PCSE updates

Data centre migration
 
Primary Care Support England (PCSE) has confirmed it will be migrating its system to a new data centre. The plan is to start at 7pm on Saturday 31 July and be completed by 10am on Sunday. PCSE hopes performing the upgrade during these hours will minimise the impact on primary eye care providers.
 
Change to the claim search function on PCSE Online 

PCSE Online has changed its claim search functionality. If you need to search all claims in a certain period, the maximum number of records that can be returned is now 200.
 
Help with paper GOS submissions
 
If you are still using paper GOS forms in England and experiencing high rejection rates, PCSE is hosting a webinar on 29 July 6.30-7.30 pm to help. Learn more and book now. 

US researchers develop automated OCT device

Researchers at Duke University say they have developed a fully automated optical coherence tomography (OCT) device. The National Eye Institute-funded project helped develop a contactless OCT with a robotic arm and active-tracking scan head to auto-align with a patient's pupil. Researchers hope this will enable wider use of OCTs in non-ophthalmology settings, helping detect eye problems and preserve sight. Learn more. 

Other sector news

The Royal College of Ophthalmologists (RCOphth) has published an essential guide to low vision for ophthalmologists. The College says the guide will help ophthalmologists understand who is suitable for referral to low vision services. Read the full guidance, Low Vision: the essential guide for ophthalmologists.

The College of Optometrists has launched its public-facing summer eye health campaign. The campaign provides advice and guidance on protecting vision and eye health. View the campaign infographic and learn more.