04 September 2020

FODO’s Friday roundup - 4 September – sector news

This week's news

• OFNC update
• Scotland update
• Using technology during the pandemic
• Other sector news

OFNC update

The OFNC has today issued the following.

OFNC update: mounting concern over delays in Covid-19 funding information for optical practices in England

The OFNC has kept the sector up to date while waiting for NHS England to publish its guidance on ongoing COVID-19 support for optical practices. To our increasing concern and dismay, NHS England is still to confirm its position over two months after the first phase of support formally ended in June.

As we reported in our July updates, the OFNC has agreed with NHS England that there will be continued average GOS support:

• until 31 July for all open GOS contractors in England, without any activity threshold
• until the end of August for all domiciliary providers, with no activity threshold
• until the end of August for all practices which meet a minimum level of historic GOS1 activity.

Frustratingly, the level of activity required for fixed practices to qualify for support in August has still not been confirmed despite the end of that month now having passed. We will expect NHS England to take a fair and pragmatic approach in deciding which practices are eligible for payments.

Meanwhile, and as explained in our update of 31 July, we continue to negotiate with NHS England on further support beyond August for practices in deprived areas which largely provide NHS care and are struggling to recover, and for domiciliary providers. We fully appreciate the difficult circumstances many contractors are still facing, and the added difficulty caused by the lack of certainty over future support arrangements. We fully share that frustration.

We are continuing in urgent discussions about these issues with NHS England and hope to be able to make a further statement about future COVID-19 support soon.

Scotland update

Today the Directorate of Primary Care Scotland issued PCA(O)2020(15), which confirms that routine eye care services can be provided within day centres and residential centres (including care homes) from 7 September 2020. Eye care providers must, however, meet conditions set out in the PCA(O)2020(15) before recommencing these services.

This PCA follows PCA(O)2020(14), which was published over the bank holiday weekend. It confirmed the details of ongoing financial support arrangements for primary eye care in Scotland. 

In this week's Optometry Scotland (OS) in focus, OS confirmed it was continuing its work with Invicta Public Affairs to promote the profession to key members of the Scottish Government, in particular the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Sport, Jeane Freeman MSP. OS is now developing proposals for a more sustainable funding model and a methodology for annual fee negotiations in Scotland. 

Meanwhile, the Scottish Government has set out its plans for the coming year and beyond. They include plans to "accelerate the reform programme for NHS eye care services, including continuing to implement the recommendations of the Community Eyecare Services Review". The goal is to provide more care closer to home and will include supporting an additional 50 optometrists to train as independent prescribers. The plan also sets a goal for community-based optometrists to "deliver 50,000 appointments for lower risk hospital ophthalmology patients".  

Using technology during the pandemic 

The GOC has published a statement on the use of technology during the Covid-19 pandemic, setting out how the "Opticians Act 1989 does not restrict the type of equipment, products or technology that can be used by registrants". 

The statement goes on to explain that individual and business registrants should use technology in line with GOC standards. They should use their professional judgement when it comes to using technology, for example ensuring it complies with regulations set by the MHRA. 

Read the full statement.     

Other sector news 

This year's British Congress of Optometry and Visual Science (BCOVS) will include more than 25 presentations showcasing work by optometrists, orthoptists, ophthalmologists and vision scientists. BCOVS will take place virtually on Zoom on Monday 7 and Tuesday 8 September. Read more. 

The College of Optometrists is hosting a webinar in October to discuss how Covid has changed optometry practice and the future of primary care in context. Learn more. 

FMO has announced the proceeds of the sale of Optrafair to Media 10 will help it provide members with a refund of at least half of their 2020 subscription. Read more.