Latest News from Hampshire LOC – 26 January 2024
29 January 2024
Opportunity to participate in the Electronic Referral Service (eRS) Pilot
Hampshire and the Isle of Wight ICB are taking part in a pilot run by NHS Digital and are looking for optometrists within the Portsmouth and South East localities who would like to be involved. Optometrists from the rest of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight are welcome to volunteer also, as long as they see patients who choose Portsmouth Hospitals University Trust for their ophthalmology treatment, as they are the only provider taking part in the pilot currently.
Please see the attached document for further details but essentially:
- The pilot will give optometrists access to refer patients directly to Portsmouth Hospitals via the e-Referrals Service (formally known as Choose and Book).
- Those who wish to take part will be provided with an authentication key, allowing them to access a web based version of eRS to send referrals
- This can be done without the need for an HSCN connection, which has been a barrier to optometrists accessing the system in the past
- Implementation support and Training will be provided by NHS England’s Digital Partnering Team
- The training will be delivered virtually via MS Teams. Virtual training has been provided in other ICB’s and feedback from Optoms was that it met their expectations
- The pilot will be for Medical Retinal conditions only initially, but could extend to additional ophthalmology pathways as the pilot progresses
- Being part of the pilot removes the need for optometrists to refer medical retinal patients to their GP for onward referral to Portsmouth Hospitals University Trust.
- It also enables two way communication as Portsmouth Hospitals consultants will have the option to ask the optometrist for additional information, advise on how the patient can be managed in the community or accept the referral
The aim of the pilot is to determine whether the NHS e-Referral Service is a suitable system for digitising referrals from optometrists to Hospital Eye Service Providers and to understand the business change effort needed for any further roll out.
If you would like to take part please contact the ICB – hiowicb-hsi.icbelectivecaremailbox@nhs.net
If you don’t feel you are able to take part, please also make contact to let us know what the barriers or challenges to this are – hiowicb-hsi.icbelectivecaremailbox@nhs.net
A date for your Diary – Hampshire LOC AGM – 05 June 2024 – (and a request)
The 2024 Hampshire LOC AGM is taking place on Wednesday evening 05 June 2024, provisionally at Norton Park Hotel, Sutton Scotney, Nr Winchester.
As part of the evening the LOC likes to include a CPD event, either a Speaker or training as we did last year with a peer review session.
Our request – this year we would like to hear from you as to what form of CPD you would like to have at the AGM. Please email our Business Manager isilk@hampshireloc.org.uk with your thoughts by Monday 12 February 2024, so that the committee can review and decide on what CPD to provide you with.
Optegra – Hampshire Hospital CPD Event – Come Diagnose With Me: Diabetes – presented by Mr Steve Lash – Tuesday 20th February, 6:30pm
Please see attached invitation for upcoming in person CPD event at our Hampshire hospital.
Hampshire LOC Latest News
Latest News from Hampshire LOC – 18 April 2025
OpenSight Launch new Website The new website brings together everything you need to know about OpenSight—our services, events, and resources—all in one place. Whether you’re looking for practical support, advice, or ways to get involved, we hope this site will be an invaluable tool for everyone we serve. We invite you to explore the new …
Continue reading “Latest News from Hampshire LOC – 18 April 2025”
18 April 2025
Latest News from Hampshire LOC – 11 April 2025
RNIB Request for Help in Alton Area Hampshire LOC has received a request from Alyson Smith at RNIB who has been contacted by a patient who is looking for an optometrist in the Alton area who may be particularly familiar testing patients who take psychiatric medication neuroleptics? If no-one has the experience would you be …
Continue reading “Latest News from Hampshire LOC – 11 April 2025”
13 April 2025
Latest News from Hampshire LOC – 04 April 2025
Save the Date! – Hampshire LOC AGM – 11 June 2025 Hampshire LOC will be holding its AGM on Wednesday 11 June 2025 at the Winchester Hotel, Winchester SO 23 7AB from 18:30hrs. We are pleased to announce our guest speaker this year is Mr Nish Srikantha MBBS PhD PGcertHE FRCOphth. Consultant ophthalmologist specialising in …
Continue reading “Latest News from Hampshire LOC – 04 April 2025”
5 April 2025
Latest News from Hampshire LOC – 28 March 2025
REMINDER – Hampshire LOC Post Contract Meeting – 02 April 2025 Hampshire LOC will be holding a Teams meeting on Wednesday 02 April from 19:30 – 20:30hrs. to discuss what happens post 31 March when the ICB contract for enhanced services ends. We will cover items including what the LOC recommends with regards to patients …
Continue reading “Latest News from Hampshire LOC – 28 March 2025”
29 March 2025
Latest News from Hampshire LOC – 21 March 2025
Hampshire LOC Post Contract Meeting – 02 April 2025 Hampshire LOC will be holding a Teams meeting on Wednesday 02 April from 19:30 – 20:30hrs. to discuss what happens post 31 March when the ICB contract for enhanced services ends. We will cover items including what the LOC recommends with regards to patients with high …
Continue reading “Latest News from Hampshire LOC – 21 March 2025”
22 March 2025
Latest News from Hampshire LOC – 14 March 2025
Hampshire LOC Cataract Single Point of Access Questionnaire – April 2025 Following the Hampshire wide introduction of the Cataract Single Point of Access (SPOA), also known as ‘Dora’ we would like to advise contractors and clinicians, that Hampshire LOC will be sending out a questionnaire at the end of April to gather feedback on how …
Continue reading “Latest News from Hampshire LOC – 14 March 2025”
14 March 2025
Latest News from Hampshire LOC – 28 February 2025
Important Information – Hampshire and Isle of Wight Contracts Primary EyeCare Service Update The latest update is available via this link. If you have any questions for the LOC please email Bryony Allen, the Chair via ballen@hampshireloc.org.uk as the LOC Business Manager is on leave. If you receive concerns or complaints from patients please advise …
Continue reading “Latest News from Hampshire LOC – 28 February 2025”
1 March 2025
Latest News from Hampshire LOC – 21 February 2025
Important Information – Hampshire and Isle of Wight Contracts Primary EyeCare Service Update Dear Colleagues, Primary Eyecare Services, along with the Local Optical Committee (LOC), met with the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Integrated Care Board (ICB) to discuss decommissioning and exit arrangements following the announcement that the glaucoma, cataract and enhanced triage contracts would …
Continue reading “Latest News from Hampshire LOC – 21 February 2025”
22 February 2025
Latest News from Hampshire LOC – 14 February 2025
Important Announcement on Hampshire Services – PES Update Dear Colleagues, We regret to inform you that effective from 1st April 2025, the Integrated Care Board (ICB) has taken the decision to decommission the following Primary Eyecare Services enhanced service contracts in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight: Enhanced Cataract Referral Service (IOW) Post-op Cataract Service …
Continue reading “Latest News from Hampshire LOC – 14 February 2025”
15 February 2025