18 December 2020

FODO’s Friday roundup of sector news

In our last Friday roundup of sector news this year:

• Northern Ireland Covid-19 update
• Wales Covid-19 update
• Scotland - new PCA published
• FODO Scotland announces changes
• OFNC update - planned GOS grant deductions cancelled
• England - lateral flow testing update
• Chancellor extends furlough and loan schemes
• GOC news
• New VI Charity Sector Partnership
• Hydroxychloroquine and Chloroquine Retinopathy update
• Member support over the festive season and the new year
• Other news

Northern Ireland Covid-19 update

Ophthalmic Services has confirmed that new hard lockdown restrictions that come into play on 26 December will not impact how ophthalmic contractor services practices currently operate.

It has reminded contractors to continue to adhere to IPC measures and to screen all patients before visiting the practice.  

Members in Northern Ireland should continue to follow the GOS/Primary Eyecare Services Operational Guidance document and keep up to date with Covid-19 announcements by visiting the HSC BSO Covid-19 page. 

Wales Covid-19 update

David O'Sullivan, Chief Optometric Adviser, has confirmed that optometry practices will remain open throughout the next round of national restrictions, enabling patients to access essential health services. Eye care providers are advised to continue following Amber Phase 2, College of Optometrists Covid-19 and IPC guidance.

Read more (English) (Welsh). 

Scotland - new PCA published 

The Directorate of Primary Care has published PCA(O)2020(21) which sets out the importance of ongoing compliance with IPC guidance, the financial support model for mobile practices from the new year, the rules against charging additional fees or offering of inducements to GOS patients, use of eOphthalmic and mandatory GOS training. The PCA:

• Confirms mobile practices will continue to receive financial support until activity has sufficiently recovered, with a new remuneration model on and after Friday 1 January 2020
• Reminds contractors "not to require payment of fees or similar from patients for the provision of general ophthalmic services (other than those fees/charges as detailed in regulations or the Statement)" and that regulations prohibit inducements to GOS patients.

Members in Scotland are advised to read the latest PCA in full.

FODO Scotland announces changes

Kathryn Trimmer of Duncan & Todd and Stuart Laird of ASDA are taking over from Hal Rollason when he steps down as Chair of FODO Scotland in the New Year.

Hal is retiring after 18 inspirational years at the helm of FODO Scotland. He is also retiring from Optometry Scotland (OS) which he co-founded in 2003.

At OS, Hal had a pivotal role in designing the new and revised contract and in IT connectivity. He also served as a College Council member for 12 years.

Read more about Hal's announcement. You can also find out more about Kathryn, who steps in as FODO Scotland Chair, and Stuart who takes on the new role of Vice-Chair, here. 

OFNC update - planned GOS grant deductions cancelled

The OFNC, NHS England and the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) have agreed to cancel planned GOS grant deductions to offset contractors' PPE costs. Read the full OFNC statement and latest FAQs.

England - lateral flow testing update

NHS England and NHS Improvement (NHSE-I) has written to all GOS contractors to confirm that it will make regular lateral flow testing available to everybody working in primary care with a patient-facing role for 12 weeks.  PCSE has now confirmed contractors will be invited to order test kits and FAQs about the process.  

• Read NHSE-I's 16 December letter
• Read PCSE guidance and FAQs on ordering lateral flow tests
• Watch a video on how to perform the test

FODO members can contact us if you have any questions by emailing [email protected]

Chancellor extends furlough and loan schemes

Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak announced yesterday that the government is:

• Extending the furlough scheme until the end of April 2021
• Extending the government-guaranteed Covid-19 loan scheme until the end of March 2021.

The Chancellor had previously said he would review the employer contribution element of the furlough scheme in January but has now decided not to make changes. This means the government will continue to pay 80% of the salary of employees for hours not worked until the end of April. Employers will only be required to pay wages for actual hours worked, National Insurance Contributions (NICs) and pensions for hours worked; and NICs and pensions for hours not worked. Read more.

GOC news

This week the GOC launched two consultations:

• New draft Speaking Up guidance for registrants.The GOC wants to hear from the sector on the clarity of the guidance and potential impacts.The consultation closes on 10 March. Learn more and take part

• Transitioning from a CET to CPD scheme in January 2022. The latest consultation is open for six weeks and closes 28 January. Learn more and take part.

The GOC is advertising two vacancies:

• Registrants in Scotland and Wales have an opportunity to apply to join the GOC Council. There are two vacancies, one for Scotland and one for Wales
• The role will require a time commitment of 2-3 days a month and includes remuneration of £13,962 per year, plus travel and subsistence expenses 
• Learn more and apply by Sunday 10 January 2021 at 11pm

This week, the GOC also issued a statement on emergency legislation from 14 Dec. The statement refers to amending the rules governing the GOC Fitness to Practise and Registration Appeal Committees. They provide flexibility to conduct remote hearings and other procedural changes to aid working during Covid-19. The amendments came into effect on 14 December 2020 and expire automatically on 2 October 2021, with the exception of email communications which are a permanent change. 

New VI Charity Sector Partnership

Blind Veterans UK, Glaucoma UK, Guide Dogs, Macular Society, Retina UK, RNIB, Thomas Pocklington Trust and Visionary have announced they will form a new VI Charity Sector Partnership.

The aim of the partnership is to provide strategic overview for the planning and implementation of initiatives in the charity sector that will lead to improving the lives of blind and partially sighted people and those at risk of sight loss across the UK.

Learn more.

This partnership will build on the legacy of Vision UK which sadly closed in July 2020 as a result of the funding crisis following the coronavirus outbreak. The outgoing trustees of Vision UK asked Thomas Pocklington Trust to produce a brief report on the impact of Vision UK over the years and the future work it has inspired. Read the Vision UK legacy report.

Hydroxychloroquine and Chloroquine Retinopathy update

The Royal College of Ophthalmologists (RCOphth) has said that "recent data have highlighted that hydroxychloroquine retinopathy is more common than previously reported". As a result, it is recommending that "all patients be referred for annual monitoring after five years of therapy and be reviewed annually thereafter while on therapy". Read more.

Member support over the festive season and the new year

After what has been a challenging year (to say the least), many of you will be taking a well-earned break over the next few weeks. Although we will be closed from 24 December and reopen on 4 January, we want to reassure you that you will get the support you need when you need it.

A member of the Executive team will be on hand to take calls during the holiday period. Simply email [email protected] to receive contact details and one of us will always be available to help.

We will also continue our routine work on the pandemic and UK and EU trade talks and update you on significant developments for the sector via our website.

The next member update will be on 8 January.

We hope you all have a safe and enjoyable festive season and a happy new year.

Other news

NHS National Services Scotland (NSS) has appointed Mary Morgan as its new Chief Executive, with effect from 1 April.

The Directorate of Primary Care, Scottish Government, has published an update to its Primary Care Communications Toolkit.

The Toolkit helps primary care contractors to communicate with patients/customers about how services are being delivered differently as a result of Covid-19. You can read more about the changes in the following:

• Cover letter from the Primary Care Directorate
• Mental health briefing - services available
• Inform MHI cCBT leaflet
• Right Care, Right Place Stakeholder Toolkit

Finally, Optometry Scotland has published its last newsletter of the year by reflecting on the range of initiatives it has been working on in 2020. Read the OS December newsletter.