27 September 2024

FODO member update – 27 September

This week:

• NEHW profile reaches new heights
• Government backs health on the high street
• Sharp rise in myopia
• Scotland updates
• Making accurate claims in England
• PCSE to begin phase 3 IT systems upgrade
• At a glance
• Health policy news

NEHW profile reaches new heights

Leading sector bodies, ABDO, The College of Optometrists and FODO, have spent the week promoting National Eye Health Week (NEHW). This year's NEHW has also seen many more organisations across the UK unite to promote the importance of good eye health and the need for regular eye tests for all.
 
The annual event is now the biggest and most influential independent public eye health campaign in the UK, sharing important eye care advice with tens of millions of people every year. NEHW highlights include:

• New research says millions of Brits are putting their physical and mental health at risk by failing to have regular eye tests. David Cartwright, optometrist and chair of Eye Health UK, encourages the public to visit their high-street optometrist regularly.
• RNIB Cymru calls for urgent action to improve the nation's eye care, advising that 50% of all sight loss is avoidable with early diagnosis and treatment. It goes on to say 80,000 patients in Wales are waiting too long for hospital eye care services, putting their sight at risk.
• In Northern Ireland, the HSC Public Health Agency also promoted the need for regular eye tests and for people to see their optometrist if they have any concerns.
• Age UK teamed up with the Thomas Pocklington Trust to help more people care for their eyes.

Harjit Sandhu, FODO CEO, said: "Each year, the event raises the profile of eye health needs and the importance of primary eye care across the UK. It is amazing how the small NEHW team reaches communities across the UK. It shows what we can achieve when we work together." 

Government backs health on the high street

Speaking at an Institute for Government and New Stateman event at the Labour Party Conference this week, health secretary Wes Streeting said that high street opticians and audiologists already help the NHS and he feels the government "should work with the independent sector on the high street to improve access to healthcare".
 
Mr Streeting also visited the Specsavers stand at the conference to discuss the postcode lottery patients experience for NHS-funded enhanced eye care and audiology services.

Read more about the Labour Party conference in policy news. 

Sharp rise in myopia

A new study suggests the global prevalence of myopia has increased, with one in three children now estimated to be short-sighted.
 
Following the BBC story, the College of Optometrists promoted the importance of eye health and optometry on BBC News, ITV, LBC, the Daily Mail and multiple other outlets. 

Scotland updates

In the latest PCA, the Scottish Government provides information on:

• CPD allowance claims process. Log in to access CPD claim form
• Tests and procedures for GOS eye examinations
• Record-keeping requirements for GOS(S)4 NHS optical vouchers
• Mpox update
• Provision of NHS email accounts
• Data sharing for the SCONe project
• Migration from Capita SWAN to BT SWAN. 

Making accurate claims in England

You can now access the latest copy of Making accurate claims in England. Members needing further advice can contact us at [email protected] or 020 7298 5151. 

PCSE to begin phase 3 IT systems upgrade

The PCSE IT team invites PMS providers to run User Acceptance Testing checks from November 4 to November 15 as they start phase 3 upgrades in the 'UAT environment'.
 
UAT will not be available from October 14 to November 18 during the IT systems upgrade to the latest version of Microsoft Dynamics CRM.
 
Please email [email protected] if you have any questions, using PCSE IT Upgrade - Phase 3 in the subject line. 

At a glance

• FODO and NCHA met health system leaders at a King's Fund event this week and discussed how to move care closer to home.
• From October,?the NHS Diabetic Eye?Screening Programme in England will start to incorporate Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT). The aim is that by October?2025, all services will offer?OCT. Read more on Future NHS or in this document.
• BIOS raises concerns following a survey of child vision screening services in England, which shows a rise in the number of local authorities not offering any form of reception-age screening. Read more.
• Public Health Wales has published a new Primary Care Clusters Dashboard, which includes demographic data and uptake of diabetic eye screening.
• Hugo's Story for Eye Health Week: An eye test led to my brain tumour diagnosis.
• Health and Safety Matters promotes the importance of eye health at work.
• WCO publishes a 2023 global survey of optometry, covering scope of practice and legislation in WCO member countries. 
• The Royal College of Ophthalmologists asks what the Darzi report means for ophthalmology services. The College recognises that hospital eye services cannot treat all eye care patients, and more needs doing out of hospital. Read more.
• Opticians in Wales encourage people to have regular eye exams, warning of thousands of people risk losing their sight. Read more.

Health policy news

Labour Party conference roundup
 
Mr Streeting repeated the government's plan to change the NHS from analogue to digital, hospitals to communities and sickness to prevention. He committed to giving NHS patients more control over their care.
 
In his keynote speech, he also expressed concerns about a recent survey in which 70% expected charges to be introduced for NHS care. His response was unequivocal: "I've said it before; I'll say it again. Over my dead body. We will always defend our NHS as a public service, free at the point of use, so whenever you fall ill, you never have to worry about the bill."
 
In addition to meeting Wes Streeting at their stand (see story above), the Specsavers fringe event "NHS recovery: primary care on the high street" also hosted Stephen Kinnock MP, minister of state for care. Mr Kinnock said optometry on the high street was a priority for this government. Giles Edmonds, clinical services director at Specsavers, said his organisation was campaigning about minor eye conditions, glaucoma and audiology services. 
 
Mr Kinnock also briefly attended the Progressive Britain tent, sponsored by the AOP, where he touched on single points of access and repeated government policy goals. Adam Sampson, AOP CEO, talked about general policy issues and reiterated sector-wide positions on the need to provide more care out of hospitals.