14 July 2023

FODO member update – 14 July

This week:

• Vision Care for Homeless People will meet more need
• England catching up on direct referral
• New UCL-Moorfields eye hospital
• GOC: New international registration requirements  
• Other sector news
• Health policy news

Vision Care for Homeless People will meet more need

Vision Care for Homeless People (VCHP) has announced plans to increase its 7 eye care clinics to 24 across the UK. 

Elaine Styles, co-founder and chair of VCHP, said the charity hoped this would help tackle inequalities in access to eye care that homeless people experience. 

A partnership with Specsavers, with which the charity has a longstanding relationship, has made the growth plan possible. Dame Mary Perkins became a patron of the charity in 2014. She said the service was part of the goal to improve access to eye care for all and that "we have pledged to help people experiencing homelessness in particular as they are frequently disadvantaged when it comes to healthcare". 

England catching up on direct referral

While direct referral from optometrists to ophthalmology is common in many parts of the UK, the fragmented commissioning system in England means parts of the country still use outdated models of care which require optometrists to refer to ophthalmology via a GP. So, in this year's planning guidance, NHS England prioritised implementing direct referral in eye care.

In the latest announcement, there is a new streamlined referral pathway across eyecare services in North Central London, with optometrists sending referrals directly to a single point of access to help route patients to their preferred ophthalmology provider.

At FODO, we would like to hear from AOCs, LOCs and ROCs from across the UK about innovative pathways and improvements to local services, especially where these reduce the risk of sight loss due to delays in care. If you have examples to showcase, please email [email protected]. 

New UCL-Moorfields eye hospital

Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, the UCL Institute of Ophthalmology and Moorfields Eye Charity have started to build a new eye hospital facility called Oriel.

Oriel will be a centre for eye care, research and education and is due to open in 2027. The organisations hope the new facility will help accelerate R&D and deliver quality treatments and therapies for patients in the UK and globally. 

GOC: New international registration requirements

The General Optical Council (GOC) has launched a consultation on changes to its international requirements for registration. The consultation affects optometrists and dispensing opticians who gained their qualifications outside the UK or Switzerland. The  GOC Consultation Hub hosts the consultation, which will close on 4 October 2023. 

Other sector news

• Vodafone improves Wimbledon experience for visually impaired tennis fans. Read more.
• UCL says a spinout tackling eye disease has raised £57m.
• Read BIOS's response to the NHS Long Term Workforce Plan.
• Review the latest eye care measures for NHS outpatients in Wales.

Health policy news

New NHS procurement regime one step closer

The government has published its response to the consultation on the Provider Selection Regime (PSR) in England which was carried out in spring 2022.

The PSR will set out how the NHS in England commissions services following the implementation of the Health and Care Act 2022.

Responding to the consultation, FODO and other organisations had called for more accountability and independent checks and balances in the new procurement system. In response, the government has agreed to introduce a greater degree of independence into reviewing decisions made under the PSR by establishing a panel 'chaired by an independent person who can look at and advise on both issues relating to patient choice regulations (that will be made under new patient choice provisions inserted by the Health and Care Act 2022) and the PSR regulations'. 

The government said it hopes this will ensure that:

• Patients' rights to choice are respected and enabled

• Procurement processes are transparent, fair and proportionate, enabling all providers to compete for contracts

• Providers are not unfairly excluded from offering services to patients and service users.

DHSC and NHS England will continue to work together to finalise the PSR, and subsequent regulations and statutory guidance.

Members should note that GOS (POS levels 1 and 2) are core primary care contracts and will not be affected by the PSR. POS level 3 (locally enhanced services) might be commissioned differently under the PSR but in most cases you should not notice a change.

FODO will continue to analyse and respond to consultations on the PSR and related regulations and guidance on behalf of members and the wider sector, ensuing they work for the benefit of patients To stay up to date and get involved directly with this work, please email [email protected]. 

Benefits of connectivity in eye care

Policy Exchange has published a report on the interface between primary and secondary care and how it might be better managed in the future to deliver benefits for patients, the NHS and taxpayer.
The report includes several eye care examples where technology was used to reduce waiting times, the number of hospital visits and prevent sight loss due to delays in care.

Read more.

NHS pay rise

DHSC has announced the NHS in England will approve pay review body recommendations, so dentists and doctors will receive at least a 6% pay rise.

Supreme Court decision on informed consent 

Read Vicki Swanton's blog on the implications of today's important Supreme Court decision in McCulloch and others (Appellants) v Forth Valley Health Board (Respondent) (Scotland), which concerns informed consent.