COVID Updates, LOCSU And FODO News

3 June 2022

Hi all

We have some COVID-19 updates for you this week, as well as LOCSU and FODO news:

1. College expects to move from Amber to ‘Living with Covid’ Green Phase Soon
   
   The College of Optometrists has announced that it expects to move to its ‘Green’ phase in early May. FODO advises that they are hoping this will happen on the 10 May, but the exact date is subject to change. Further details are available on the college website, HERE. 

   They advise practices should now prepare to switch from “Amber” guidance, to  following its updated Guidance for Professional Practice (GfPP). The GfPP now sets out IPC measures for what the College describes as, the “new normal”, including the updated infection control section here.

   Regarding the infection control section, FODO note that: “B28 for example sets out how standard precautions – good hand hygiene etc. – will remain in place. B38 explains when PPE should be used. B39 clarifies situations in which team members should use a Type IIR mask.  B39c explains that PPE measures should also follow official public health guidance. These of course may well vary by country and location in the future- e.g. during periods of high Covid transmission or flu season etc.”

2. NHS England steps down physical distancing 
   
   FODO advise: “NHS England has confirmed that primary care practices can return to “pre-pandemic physical distancing” subject to local risk assessment. 
    
   The College of Optometrists has said this also applies to eye care settings in England, and that optical practices are “no longer required to maintain a minimum of 1m distance”. However, practices will need to keep other IPC measures in place. 
    
   The College has updated its Covid-19 Amber phase guidance to reflect the changes to physical distancing recommendations across the UK pending its move to ‘green’ phase next month.
    
   In a practical sense, this means that optical practices in England can remove physical distancing measures based on local risk assessments – e.g. they are not seeing patients with Covid symptoms.”
3. Lateral Flow Tests still required but available free from the GOV.UK Portal.
   As noted in the NHS E&I letter of 30th March, HERE, ALL NHS patient facing staff should continue to test twice weekly, even when asymptomatic. They remain available, free of charge, to patient facing staff, HERE, stating that you “work for the NHS” as the reason.
4. LOCSU News
   Is HERE, including “LOCSU Appoints Clinical Director” and “New
   Report Calls for Country To Embrace Collaborative Primary Care at Scale”.
5. FODO News
   Is HERE, including “New resources on falls and vision impairment”, “Deadline for national data opt-out implementation extended (England)” and “Health and Care Act 2022 (England)”.

Kind regards

Herts LOC