Gos Exam Fee Increase, GOS Form Signatures, NHS Emails And AGM Report

28 March 2021

We have 6 items for you today:

1. 1. 1. GOS sight test fee increase.
         The Department of Health and Social Care has said it will increase GOS sight test fees by 1.9% from April 2021. The GOS CET allowances and pre-registration supervision grants will also rise by the same percentage. Further information can be found in the OFNC statement on FODO’s website, HERE. The letter from the Department of Health & Social Care to the OFNC setting out the new terms in more detail can be found HERE,  the OFNC response can be found HERE,  and their original proposal, “GOS FEES 2021/22 – THE CASE FOR AN INCREASE” can be found HERE.
      2. GOS FORM SIGNATURES
         As you are aware, GOS claims can currently be submitted without a patient signature, as long as you enter ‘COVID-19’ in the patient signature box. This was originally due to end on 31 March. However, given the need for ongoing infection prevention and control, FODO have advised that this easement will continue until further notice from NHS England.
      3. NHS Email Update.
         During the pandemic, the requirement to complete the NHS mail checklist has been waived to make it easier to obtain an NHS mail account with the waiver extended until 30 June 2021.From 1 July 2021 the NHS mail DSPT (Data Security & Protection Toolkit) will be retired by NHS Digital and those requesting NHS mail accounts will be required to complete the full optical DSPT, either in QiO or on NHS Digital’s website.If you have not already obtained an NHS mail account, it would be wise to get one before the end of June deadline. Further details and the application form can be found on LOCSU’s website, HERE.

         Please also note that from 1 April 2021 the NHS mail checklist on QiO will be removed, while the optical DSPT checklist will remain in place. If you have previously completed an NHS mail checklist we advise you to download a pdf copy of your submission for your records.

      4. AGM Report.
         Hertfordshire LOC held its AGM on Monday 22nd March, via Zoom. As well as the current Committee members and Officers, there were also nine observers. 
         We had four excellent candidates apply for the one vacancy we had on the LOC. The election of the new member took place during the meeting, with the observers being able to vote as well as the committee. The successful applicant was Deepali Modha, who we would like to both congratulate and extend a warm welcome to.
         The number of people signed up to the LOC mailing list has almost doubled during the Covid pandemic from just over 200 on the list to currently over 400. We will continue to keep you all informed and updated in these unprecedented times.
         We are working on a more modern, easier to navigate website and will be taking the opportunity to tidy and improve our mailing list data. In the coming weeks, we will be asking you to fill in a form with all your details, which will enable us to communicate more effectively. Thank you, in advance, for your help with this.
         Should you have any questions about the AGM, or the LOC, you are welcome to contact us at HertsLOC@gmail.com
      5. HVCCG’s latest update
         can be found HERE, including several interesting items on Long Covid volunteers being needed, Dementia carers support group and a new help & advice service for SEND children called SENDIAS.
      6. FODO’s weekly news
         is HERE, including NHS England – eye care priorities for 2021/22, DHSC review of professional regulation and BCLA launches Contact Lens Evidence-based Academic Reports  (CLEAR).

   Kind regards

   Herts LOC