Withdrawal Of SOP, Isolation Exemption, GOS Contracts, Addenbrooks Contacts, PAH Referrals & FODO News

4 August 2021

We have 6 items for you today:

1. 1. Withdrawal of NHSE Optical SOP
      You are likely to have already received this information via the primary care gateway (Email GW3307 – FOR INFORMATION: B0783 Arrangements for primary care from 19 July 2021) or from other sources, but we have repeated the update HERE for those that may have missed it. ABDO, the AOP, the College and FODO have issued a joint statement on this, HERE.

1. 1. Self-isolation exemption
      The Department on Health and Social Care (DHSC) announced, HERE, that fully vaccinated frontline health and care staff may continue to work rather than self-isolate when they have been identified as close contact of a COVID-19 positive case outside of the work setting.

      This has been introduced to help alleviate pressure on healthcare services. The DHSC is clear that the exemption only applies where frontline health and social care staff absence may lead to a significant risk of harm to patients.

      NHS England has published a letter, HERE, confirming that this exemption applies in all NHS settings, including primary eye care, but is “subject to strict conditions”. Further information may be found in the same joint statement mentioned above, which can also be found HERE.

1. 1. GOS contract management functions to move to integrated care boards from April 2022
      NHS England has confirmed to the OFNC that General Ophthalmic Services (GOS) will remain a national contract with terms, fees and grants continuing to be negotiated nationally.

      The Health and Care Bill, currently before Parliament, will change NHS commissioning structures in England, including the establishment of new Integrated Care Boards (ICBs). NHS England has announced plans, HERE, to transfer all primary care contract management functions from NHS England to ICBs from April 2022.

      This means ICBs will hold the contracts instead of NHS England regional teams. It will not affect how the GOS service is delivered; providers will continue to provide a GOS sight testing service as now, and patients will access GOS in the same way. Further information can be found in the OFNC statement HERE.

   2. Addenbrooke’s contact details
      We have been advised that the best, non urgent, number to use is their switchboard on 01223 245151.

      Also, they have asked us to delete their Fax number from our contacts list, and to replace the details for direct cataract referrals with an email address, add-tr.NHSOutpatientReferrals@nhs.net, instead of the postal address.

      This information has been updated on our Referral Contact List,  HERE, which can be downloaded and/or printed should you wish.

1. 1. Princess Alexandra Hospital Referrals
      We have been asked to remind practitioners that all routine referrals to the hospital should be sent to the patient’s GP in West Essex and East & North Herts, if the patient wants to be seen in PAH.

      DO NOT send routine referrals to tpa-tr.ophthalmology@nhs.net  This should only be used for urgent and emergency referrals once the Advice and Guidance received from one of the Hospital Consultants requests this information.

      Routine referrals sent to this email address stop the patients who have urgent or emergency referrals from being triaged in a timely manner.

1. FODO News
   Is HERE, including a PCSE Update (System Downtime, Changes to the Claim Search Function and Help with Paper GOS forms).

Kind regards

Herts LOC