18 August 2023

FODO member update - 18 August

This week:

• Wales - latest WGOS update
• Scotland - Covid testing update
• England - PCSE online downtime
• GOC issues ETR update
• Other sector news

Wales - latest WGOS update

NHS Wales Shared Services Partnership (SSP) has issued its second newsletter on planned GOS reforms in Wales. The latest edition focuses on optical appliances with references to new voucher bands. 

Members should read the FODO email update of 18 August for more information. 

Scotland - Covid testing update

The Scottish Government (SG) is to pause routine Covid-19 testing for all healthcare staff. The SG said these changes should take effect no later than 30 August 2023. Instead of routine testing, SG recommends that healthcare staff follow NHS inform guidance if they have respiratory symptoms. FODO recommends clinical and management leads in Scotland also read the latest SG correspondence in full, especially Annex B, which includes FAQs. 

England - PCSE online downtime

PCSE Online will be unavailable from 6pm on 18 August until 8am on 19 August for maintenance. PCSE and NHS England have published Business continuity guidance for ophthalmic contractors to ensure GOS can continue when PCSE Online is unavailable, such as during system maintenance downtimes. 

GOC issues ETR update

The GOC has announced that 12 qualifications have met its new education and training requirements (ETR) and are ready to be delivered from autumn 2023. Read more. 

Other sector news

• Love Your Lenses Week will occur from 4-10 September to raise awareness of safe contact lens wear and the benefits of wearing contact lenses. Learn more and get involved. National Eye Health Week in the UK follows from 18-14 September, and World Sight Day on 12 October - making a month of opportunities to promote eye health awareness in your locality.

• The Welsh Government has shared digital assets to inform the public about services available from their local optometrist to detect and prevent eye problems. The campaign launched on 24 July and will run until September 2023 across social and digital media. Review and download assets.

• NICE is consulting on its draft guideline on diabetic retinopathy (DR). The guideline focuses on managing and monitoring DR in hospital eye services. It does not cover care within the scope of the NHS diabetic eye screening programme. The consultation will close at 5pm on 27 September. Learn more.

• Sky News reports that Girls Aloud star Kimberley Walsh will be supporting the Global Myopia Awareness Coalition's Sight Sanctuary campaign, which will encourage families to get outdoors more.

• Andrew Bastawrous, professor in international eye health at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, was awarded an OBE for his services to eye health overseas in the King's Birthday Honours List. Read more.

• RNIB reports that the Department for Work and Pensions is in breach of equality laws for failing to provide accessible information about benefits for blind and partially sighted people.

• The inauguration of the first 10 ophthalmologists into the new Ophthalmologist Power List's Hall of Fame includes two UK ophthalmologists - Sir Peng T. Khaw and David (Ted) Garway-Heath. Read more.