04 February 2022

FODO member update - 4 February

This week:

• Opportunity: PES seeks new Chair
• Covid update - England
• National Care Service - Scotland
• New consultation: fixed recoverable costs in lower value clinical negligence claims
• MECS and CUES update
• Access free CPD
• Other sector news

Opportunity: PES seeks new Chair

Primary Eyecare Services (PES) is now recruiting a new Chair. The deadline for applications is 27 February 2022. For more information or to request a candidate application pack email [email protected]. 

Covid update - England

DHSC has launched a consultation on removing vaccination as a condition of deployment for health and social care staff. Following the announcement, the GOC has issued a statement encouraging vaccination (except for those who are medically exempt). 

National Care Service - Scotland

The Scottish Government has now published responses it received on its consultation on the National Care Service. 
 
The Government said that many responses were from individuals and that in general, respondents supported the proposals but that "responses also helpfully highlight the risks that will emerge from such significant change, but the main theme is that change is needed, and it is needed now, as well as in the longer term."
 
BMA Scotland said it was "deeply concerned about the proposals to have Community Health and Social Care Boards (CHSCBs) manage GPs contractual arrangements. This proposal fails to understand the close and interlinked relationship between primary and secondary care and any moves to fragment this would not only risk altering the role and function of the GP but the proposals may lead to poorer outcomes for those patients who require healthcare."
 
Optometry Scotland also said that existing commissioning structures for primary care work well and should remain as they are, but like the BMA, supported the strengthening of social care in Scotland in parallel.  

New consultation: fixed recoverable costs in lower value clinical negligence claims

DHSC has launched a consultation about limiting the amount of legal costs claimant lawyers can recover in respect of lower value clinical negligence claims.
The proposals would only affect the amount of legal costs that claimant lawyers can recover following a successful claim, not the compensation that a claimant could receive.

The FODO policy team will be reviewing and responding to this consultation, if you would like to take part please email [email protected]. 

MECS and CUES update

The latest LOCSU data show 11% more of the population in England is able to access eye care via CUES or MECS than at the start of the pandemic. As a result 74% of the population can now access urgent and emergency eyecare services in a primary care setting. 

Access free CPD

LOCSU, working in partnership with WOPEC, is offering CPD accredited courses for Optometrists and Dispensing Opticians. The courses can be accessed via your LOC. The most recent courses are Eyecare Services for People with a Learning Disability and Maculopathy OCT Interpretation. In total over 40 CPD points are available.  Learn more. 

Other sector news

The Macular Society is hosting a webinar in March to help address hurdles accessing employment for people with visual impairments in England and Wales.

FTC fines contact lens supplier $3.5m for non-compliance with contact lens rule. Read more.