Latest News from Hampshire LOC – 7 October 2022

7 October 2022

Wanted – Expressions of Interest for Community Primary Eye Care Services across North, Mid and West Hampshire and Southampton

Hampshire LOC together with Primary Eyecare Service are looking to introduce additional community eyecare services across Hampshire in conjunction with local commissioners.

Services that have been initiated to date have been highly successful and we are looking to build on this over the coming months/year. This will also be building on the Optometry First initiative taking place on the Isle of Wight.

In order for us to plan ahead we would be grateful for your support by completing the Expression of Interest, available via this link HERE

Proposed service summary sheets to help you assess how you can support the LOC in developing primary  eye care services across Hampshire are available on request from isilk@hampshireloc.org.uk

Practices in NE Hampshire, Fareham & Gosport, SE Hampshire and Portsmouth who see patients from GP practices in North, Mid and West Hampshire or Southampton are also welcome to express an interest in providing services for these areas.

Article Highlights the Need for Primary Eye Care To Support NHS

An article in the Health Service Journal has set out how primary care can help tackle the growing backlog in NHS Outpatient ophthalmology.

Written by the chief executive of the AOP, Adam Sampson, it calls for eye health pathway reform which Adam describes as “a quick win”.

Read the full story >

Hampshire LOC and contractors are pleased to be working with the Isle of Wight commissioners to support Optometry First as highlighted in Adam Sampson’s article.

IR35 Changes for Locums and practice Owners

The following information has been received regarding IR35 status. Whilst this may be useful we would recommend that locums and practice owners consult with their own accountants.

The Chancellor last week announced his mini-budget and amongst many things there was an announcement on IR35. This is something that stakeholders in the Optical industry (Locums and practice owners) are quite heavily invested in, especially since April 2021, when they were last reformed.
I am a dual qualified Optometrist and Chartered Accountant and a treasurer for my local LOC. As an accountant I have seen that there is a misconception amongst my own locum clients and locums in general around the changes announced. I have put small posts on social media platform which has been positively received. Subsequently, I have put together a small brief for the benefit of locums and practice owners, answering the key questions:

• What does the change in IR35 mean for locums?
• What does the change in IR35 mean for practice owners?

Kind Regards,

Mo Chaudhry
Bsc Optometry & Chartered Accountant
Treasurer for Ealing & Hounslow LOC
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/locumkit-111286157

Response on ICSs to the Health and Care Committee

The Optometric Fees Negotiating Committee (OFNC) in conjunction with the Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee, the National Community Hearing Association, and with contribution from LOCSU, have had their response to the Health and Social Care Committee on Integrated Care Systems published.

The response calls for systems guidance requiring Integrated Care Boards to demonstrate how they have worked with primary care services (in the widest sense) when preparing and revising their five-year plans and asking Integrated Care Partnerships (ICPs) to have a mandated presence for the primary care professionals.

Read more >

Read the published response >

Practice Plus AMD Refresher CPD Event 20 October 2022

Practice Plus will be hosting an AMD CPD event in Southampton on Thursday 20th October 2022 at the Royal Leonardo Hotel in Southampton.

More information and how to register can be found here.