30 October 2020

FODO's Friday roundup of sector news - 30 October

Covid-19 - England update

FODO, as part of the OFNC, updated members on Monday about NHS England's long-overdue Covid-19 funding arrangements and the latest Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for optical practices. 

In the letter, NHS England confirms it has extended average monthly payments up to 30 September for all GOS mandatory contracts that meet a minimum level of activity and will provide ongoing targeted support for domiciliary contractors and providers located in the top quintile of areas of deprivation for October, November and December. 

Read the latest OFNC FAQs to learn more. If you have any questions or suggestions on how we can improve or add to the FAQs, please email [email protected] or call us on 020 7298 5151. 

FODO's David Hewlett said: "Although belated, this should come as welcome news to all. This is the right outcome for patients and eye care providers. The OFNC continues its work on supporting practices throughout the pandemic and beyond. We are now working on fees for 2021-22 and are keeping the impacts of the second wave under constant review with NHS England-Improvement."  

Covid-19 - Scotland update

Last week, we announced that we expected primary eye care services in Scotland would remain open throughout the next phase of the pandemic. The latest PCA now confirms this will be the case. 

"As health care providers and essential businesses with safe and appropriate Infection Prevention and Control measures already in place, community optometry practices are exempt from the protection measures under all five levels and can therefore remain open and provide a full range of services. Emergency and essential care should continue to be prioritised over more routine services; those patients who are at greatest risk of detriment to sight or wellbeing should be seen first." 

For domiciliary providers, the Scottish Government has announced as part of this package its intention to extend routine Covid-19 testing to groups of health and care staff who visit care homes delivering close contact personal care. When the details are announced, FODO Scotland will advise members. 

Read PCA(O)2020(16). 

Read Optometry Scotland's response to the latest PCA.       

Scottish eye care services up for review

Optometry Scotland has formed a working group to review the performance of the nation's community eye care services and look at ways to improve the service.

The group will assess the achievements of Scotland's universal entitlement for free eye care and how optometry services were delivered before and during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Julie Mosgrove, chair of the working group and vice-chair of Optometry Scotland told Optician: "The objective of the working group is to further advance the first-class work of the optometry sector in Scotland, which is widely recognised for the crucial role it plays in the prevention agenda through the early detection of associated conditions and reducing the burden on hard-pressed hospital services."  

College's Optometry Tomorrow Bitesize goes virtual

Optometry Tomorrow Bitesize 2021 will now be a month-long online learning event in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. The programme will include a range of webinars, peer discussions and discussion workshops available throughout March. Read more.