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Buckinghamshire LOC Latest News

Take part in the OFNC timing survey

      The OFNC has now opened its NHS sight test timing survey. By completing this short survey you will help us demonstrate the time it takes to deliver an NHS funded sight test and support one strand of our negotiating strategy on behalf of all GOS contractors in England. The sight test has …

24 August 2022

Free Health and Wellbeing workshops from Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire & Berkshire (BOB) Integrated Care Board (ICB)

The following workshops are available free of charge to all staff within Optical practices across the BOB area:   Kindness In Healthcare- Introduction Workshops  Suitable for all roles, this 1 hour ‘Kindness into Action’ introduction workshop will help you understand the impact and importance of respect, kindness, positivity and incivility at work. You’ll gain a …

12 August 2022

Integrated Care Systems Established 1st July 2022

NHS Integrated Care Systems (ICSs) have been legally established on 1st July! This sees the end of Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) which have managed local health services since the last set of legal reforms. ICSs are intended to bring about major changes in how health and care services are planned, paid for and delivered, and …

10 July 2022

Primary Eye Care Welcomes Fuller Stocktake Report

National optical representative bodies have welcomed the Fuller Stocktake report on integrating primary care in England. In Next steps for integrating primary care: Fuller Stocktake report, NHS England highlights the crucial role that primary eyecare and the other primary care specialisms have played at the heart of communities for generations. As Dr Claire Fuller, the CEO …

20 June 2022

Withdrawal Of UKHSA Infection Prevention And Control Measures

The College of Optometrists has issued a statement, following the withdrawal of UKHSA infection prevention and control measures in England. They advise: “As part of the College’s move to Green Phase, we have already advised that some COVID-19 IPC measure can be stopped. This latest UKHSA update recommends that the following COVID-19 IPC measure can also be …

20 June 2022

Free eyecare provision for Ukraine refugees

ABDO head of policy and public affairs, Debbie McGill, has commended the compassion being shown for the people of Ukraine by the optical profession, as well as the efforts being made to provide those remaining in Ukraine with aid, on behalf of ABDO. Debbie also provided clarification regarding the provision of eye health care to …

23 May 2022

COVID-19: Return to Green phase

As of Tuesday 10 May, each of the four nations in the UK have  moved  from the amber to the green phase of The College of Optometrists’ COVID-19 classification system. This phase sees us enter a ‘new normal’ and incorporates the good practice established over the past two years to ensure patient and public safety. ‘Living …

12 May 2022

AGM 2022 Update

The nominal date and time of our 2022 AGM was 8.00pm on 27th April. Like last year, no physical meeting was held; instead, AGM papers were posted on our website, and all on our database were given the opportunity to pose questions, nominate committee members, and vote for the resolutions, online. We were sorry to …

11 May 2022

Electronic eye referral system (E-ers) in the BLMK region

EMMS Healthcare has been awarded the contract to provide the Electronic eye referral system (E-ers) in the BLMK region. They would like to demonstrate the system to you and will be holding a series of virtual sessions which you are invited to attend. For full details and dates for the sessions see here.

2 April 2022

Free Lateral Flow Tests for Patient Facing Staff To Continue

NHSE&I have issued an urgent statement, “Living with COVID-19 – Testing Update”, which includes confirmation that Free Lateral Flow Tests WILL be available to front line staff in Primary Care. The full statement can be downloaded HERE. The AOP have welcomed the announcement, HERE.    

2 April 2022

LOCSU Latest News

OFNC Statement: Clinical Priority Codes

NHS England has published new clinical priority codes for use by GOS contractors in England.

2 December 2024

Investing in Eye Care Services Could Bring £98M Net Benefits for the NHS per Year, New Findings Show

New report reveals the untapped clinical and socio-economic impact of primary eye care.

29 November 2024

Regional Optical Conferences Take Place Across England

Over the last two weeks, LOCSU have been travelling across England for the Regional Optical Conferences (ROCs).

28 November 2024

Save the Date for NOC 2025!

Our flagship event is back in 2025 bringing together the optical community for another outstanding session of sharing, learning, and networking.

28 November 2024

Learn about upcoming committee meetings and CET events

Learn about upcoming committee meetings and CET events

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