OFNC statement – concerns over delays re Covid 19 funding information for practices
4 September 2020
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.
The Optometric Fees Negotiating Committee (OFNC) is the national negotiating body for eye care in England with the Westminster Parliament, the Department of Health and Social Care, and NHS England-NHS Improvement. It comprises the leaders of the UK representative bodies: ABDO, AOP, FODO and BMA (for OMPs) and works in partnerships with the College of Optometrists and the General Optical Council.
Berkshire LOC Latest News
CHEC – Virtual CPD Event 7th of August
CHEC are holding a ‘suitable for all’ virtual CPD event on the evening of Wednesday August 7th on MS Teams. Please see the details below:
21 July 2024
CANCELLED – Focus on Glaucoma Evening Seminar
Sadly, the Focus on Glaucoma Evening Seminar, hosted by Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust has now been cancelled. Date: 15th of July Time: 6:00pm – 8:00pm Venue: Post Graduate Education Centre, Ground Floor, Frimley Park Hospital. Please contact lorraine.north@nhs.net for further information.
10 July 2024
WOPEC MECS Assessment Oxfordshire LOC
DATE: Sunday 11th of August, 2024 VENUE: SpaMedica Oxford Don’t miss the opportunity to become an accredited MECS performer. This is a gentle reminder to book your space now. Oxfordshire LOC will be fully funding a number of spaces on a “first come first serve” basis. To be eligible you must be working in …
Continue reading “WOPEC MECS Assessment Oxfordshire LOC”
28 June 2024
Focus on Glaucoma Seminar – Frimley Health NHS Foundation
Focus on Glaucoma Evening Seminar, hosted by Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust. Date: 15th of July Time: 6:00pm – 8:00pm Venue: Post Graduate Education Centre, Ground Floor, Frimley Park Hospital. Please contact lorraine.north@nhs.net to register your interest.
28 June 2024
SpaMedica CPD Training Event
Please see details below of SpaMedica’s next CPD event to be held at their Wokingham hospital on the 31st of July. This event has been awarded 2 CPD points.
22 June 2024
Ophthalmic Community Research – Monday 24th of June
Dear colleagues, This is an initiative between the Eye Research Group Oxford and the College. Please see the details in the flyer below:
21 June 2024
Berkshire Vision – Darts and Curry Fundraiser
Join Berkshire Vision on the 27th June for their Darts and Curry fundraiser. Tickets cost £30 per person and all proceeds from the night will go directly to helping them continue their vital work supporting blind and visually impaired children and adults in the local community. To book your tickets visit the link below or …
Continue reading “Berkshire Vision – Darts and Curry Fundraiser”
30 May 2024
Berkshire LOC and CPD Event
Join us on Wednesday, July 17th, at Wokingham Cricket Club for this event. Hear about current optical developments in Berkshire from LOC Chair, Sean Caskey, and then earn some CPD from the following lectures: Zaid Shalchi: “Managing AMD in the NHS”. Discover the latest advancements, best practices, and strategies for effectively managing age-related macular degeneration …
Continue reading “Berkshire LOC and CPD Event”
29 May 2024
SpaMedica Post-Operative Accreditation Webinar
Cataract Post-Operative Accreditation Webinar Presented by Dr Alex Silvester – Chief Medical Officer 2 CPD Points SpaMedica is currently the number one provider of cataract surgeries for NHS patients in the UK; with Fifty hospitals based across the North West, the Midlands, Yorkshire, the South East and the South West. A key part of our …
Continue reading “SpaMedica Post-Operative Accreditation Webinar”
23 May 2024
Optom event – Retinal Vein Occlusion
You are cordially invited to a CPD event for Optometrists: Topic: Retinal vein occlusion Speaker: Mr Zaid Shalchi, Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon Time: 6.00-8.00pm Monday 10 June 2024 Place: Castle Suite, Princess Margaret Hospital, Osborne Road, Windsor SL4 3SJ Free registration with dinner included but book early as capacity is limited. Register at https://bit.ly/rvoforoptoms
21 May 2024