07 January 2022

FODO member update - 7 January

This week:

• Covid updates
• Consultation on statutory healthcare regulation
• Self-assessment tax returns
• NHSE's 10 priorities for 2022-23
• Other sector news

Covid updates

New College FAQs
 
The College of Optometrists has updated its FAQs on what to do if you are identified as a close contact with a Covid case. It includes country-specific guidance on what to do if a close member of your household has the virus.
 
There is also an updated FAQ on actions to take if you test positive for Covid.
 
The updated FAQs can be found in the Business FAQs section under:

• I have been identified as a contact of a Covid-19 case - what should I do? 
• I have tested positive for Covid-19 - what should I do?

Review the College FAQs.
 
Lateral flow tests (LFTs)
 
Please tell us if you face challenges accessing LFTs by emailing [email protected]. We are working with sector partners and other healthcare professions to ensure primary care teams continue to access LFTs throughout the pandemic. 

Consultation on statutory healthcare regulation

In a follow-up to previous member updates, UK governments are reviewing healthcare profession regulation. As part of this work, DHSC is leading on a new consultation covering criteria used to decide which health and social care professions should be regulated. The DHSC seeks responses by 31 March.
 
The consultation also confirms that UK governments believe "the current make-up of regulated and unregulated professions strikes the right balance in addressing the risks posed by health and care professionals without imposing unwarranted burdens. There are no plans across the four countries at present to either bring further professions into regulation in addition to physicians associates and anaesthesia associates, or to remove any professions from statutory regulation".
 
FODO will work with sector partners to analyse and respond to this consultation. If members would like to comment, please email [email protected].  

Self-assessment tax returns

HMRC has temporarily waived late filing and late payment penalties for self-assessment taxpayers. It means:

• If you cannot file your return by 31 January, you will not incur a late filing penalty if you file online by 28 February
• If you cannot pay your self-assessment tax by 31 January, you will not incur a late payment penalty if they pay your tax in full by 1 April.

Interest will still be payable from 1 February, so it is still advisable to submit on time. 

NHSE's 10 priorities for 2022-23

NHSE has set out its 10 priorities for 2022-23 in its annual planning guidance. Highlights include:

• An ambition to deliver 10% or more elective activity than before the pandemic
• A 25% reduction in follow-up outpatient appointments compared to 2019-20
• Digital initiatives, including remote outpatient appointments
• Legal establishment and operation of ICSs (including ICBs and ICPs) from 1 July 2022, subject to the Health and Care Bill becoming law, with planning deadlines extended to 1 April 2022. The planning guidance will steer the first year of statutory ICSs.

Damian Testa, Head of Policy at FODO, said: "The key thing for members to note is that the NHS and DHSC have already confirmed that General Ophthalmic Services (GOS) in England will remain a national demand-led service under a nationally agreed GOS contract and nationally negotiated fees and grants, with no local variation. In addition to this, FODO, with sector partners, is working with NHS England to help ensure the new commissioning procurement regime makes the best use of extended primary eye care services for the benefit of patients and the wider NHS." 

Other sector news

The Optician has an on-demand webinar on rewards and career progression within the optical profession, including the results of its salary and benefits survey. Watch the webinar.
 
Due to Omicron, 100% Optical will now be held on 23-25 April at the ExCeL London.
 
NHSEI has issued consultations on the 2022/23 national tariff and the 2022/23 NHS Standard Contract. It seeks responses by 28 January. FODO is reviewing these consultations. If members would like to comment, please email [email protected].
 
Research and potential future treatments for dry AMD, such as stem cell and gene therapies, offer hope.
 
Andy Hepworth starts a two-year term as chair of the OSA.
 
Dr Rohit Narayan of Anglia Ruskin University was awarded Optometrist of the Year at the national Optician Awards.
 
NICE has announced Dr Samantha Roberts as its new chief executive.
 
The UK data protection regulator, the ICO, has launched a consultation on regulating the laws it monitors and enforces. It invites responses by 24 March.
 
The DHSC has accepted most recommendations made by the inquiry into convicted surgeon Ian Paterson. The investigation aimed to ensure that lessons were learnt and to prevent a repeat of these issues in the future. The department said it
would commission independent information on how private care is organised differently from the NHS, to be published in 2022. FODO will review the response in detail and update members with relevant information.