11 March 2022

FODO member update - 11 March

This week:

• Covid-19 updates
• DHSC confirms GOS fees in England will increase by 2%
• GOS 4 - pre-authorisation information
• Joint statement on optimising contracts
• Helping Ukrainians
• NHS England wants your help - photographs of optometrists
• Other sector news

Covid-19 updates

College consults on IPC guidance as sector prepares to transition to green

The College expects UK health systems to transition from Covid-19 amber guidance to green in the coming months. This will mean that practitioners and practices will return to following the College of Optometrists' Guidance for Professional Practice (GfPP) only. To prepare for this, the College proposes 13 key changes to help minimise the risk of virus transmission and ensure its guidance still is aligned with official public health advice. Read more.

The consultation closes on 18 March. You can respond directly at the bottom of this page, or if you are a FODO member, you can send your feedback to [email protected], and we will share your feedback in our response.
 
Covid update - Wales
 
The Welsh Government (WG) has confirmed that if Covid data show a stable public health situation, it will remove all remaining restrictions on 28 March.

In 'Together for a safer future', WG sets out its long-term Covid-19 plan to transition from pandemic to endemic, with the plan for healthcare settings on page 20. It confirms plans to continue with IPC measures and that "guidance on managing the risk around healthcare settings will continue to be different from that relating to public settings". This is consistent with the rest of the UK.

Optometry Scotland update on ventilation grant
 
OS has said that following further queries about the ventilation grant, the Scottish Government's FAQs 9 to 13 have been updated.

Optical sector supports vaccination effort
 
This week, the UK optical sector published a joint letter, encouraging everybody in a patient-facing role to have all their Covid-19 vaccinations. The letter also supports people who are still unsure about getting vaccinated by sharing links to College advice and offering additional support. 

DHSC confirms GOS fees in England will increase by 2%

This week, the OFNC confirmed that DHSC would increase GOS sight test fees in England by 2% from April 2022, following a 1.9% increase in April 2021. The GOS CET allowances, pre-registration supervision grants and patient voucher values will also rise by 2%. Read the OFNC press release on our website. 

GOS 4 - pre-authorisation information

The NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) has published a short guide on GOS 4 pre-authorisation requests to repair or replace a patient's glasses in England. The guide includes how to check your patient qualifies and how to get pre-authorisation from the NHSBSA. Read the short guide. 

Joint statement on optimising contracts

Following our update of 18 February on guidance to optimise existing locally commissioned primary care optometry, the optical bodies - ABDO, AOP, College of Optometrists, FODO and LOCSU - have published a joint statement.

The sector bodies say they "welcome this guidance and its strong support for the continuation and expansion of extended primary eye care. These services are able to tackle outpatient waits, reduce the risk of avoidable blindness and address hospital capacity pressures which existed prior to Covid, and have increased significantly as a result of the pandemic". 

Helping Ukrainians

Last week we reported on Polish opticians offering eye care to Ukrainian refugees.

This week, Optician reports on actions UK-based opticians and optometrists are taking to support Ukrainians' vision needs. This includes a London-based optometrist who has offered to coordinate the supply of spectacles for refugees who have lost glasses or provide repairs to those with damaged glasses.

ABDO issued a statement clarifying eligibility for GOS-funded eye care so that refugees can access timely care. It went on to add that "NHS England has confirmed that optical practices should follow the same process for patients arriving from Ukraine that were put in place for Afghan refugees".

The Royal College of Ophthalmologists has said it is "appalled at the devastation that Ukraine is currently facing with this unjust and illegal war". It has encouraged its members to donate to the British Red Cross Appeal.

NHS England has acknowledged the many offers of help and has asked healthcare organisations to help coordinate efforts to submit offers of assistance to [email protected].

FODO members are also asking how they can help. You can read the government's advice on how to help here. The Disasters Emergency Committee has also launched an appeal to provide emergency aid and rapid relief to civilians suffering during the conflict.

NHS England wants your help - photographs of optometrists

NHS England is looking for a range of staff happy to be photographed and featured in campaign materials. This may include Staff Respect campaign materials, multidisciplinary team materials and Help Us Help You materials. They are hoping to photograph various professionals across primary care, including optometrists.

You would need to be available in London for a couple of hours (between 8am and 5pm) on one of the following days: 29, 30 or 31 March 2022. Reasonable travel expenses will be covered.

If you are interested in featuring in the campaign, please complete the form on the attached document and send a headshot photograph to [email protected] by noon on 14 March 2022.

Other sector news

Dr Inder Paul Singh says the "glaucoma toolbox is expanding", and clinicians should find the best treatment for each patient. Read Leave the drops behind at Ophthalmology Times.

Biologist receives Kitty Heatley Memorial Research Prize and Medal for his innovative work on a new gene therapeutic for Glaucoma. 

RNIB hosted the See the Future Differently conference last week. The event covered securing appropriate support for patients receiving a sight loss diagnosis, closing gaps in the provision of mental health and wellbeing, and sight loss prevention, cures and treatments. Read more.

Three people with longstanding macular disease share their top tips as part of the Macular Society's 'Get technically savvy' blog.

The Macular Society has also published updated tips and advice for job seekers with sight loss.

The College is recruiting a third clinical adviser to its Clinical Advice team. The post is part-time (three days a week). Learn more and apply before 14 March.

The Getting It Right First Time (GIRFT) programme has appointed a third clinician to join its clinical leadership team for ophthalmology. Jonathan (Jon) Bhargava joins Alison Davis and Lydia Chang as GIRFT clinical leads for ophthalmology.