Lister Hours, Voucher Values, CPD Webinar And FODO News

16 August 2022

We have 5 items for you today:

1. Your Help is Needed With the Workforce and Equipment Survey
   Further to our email last week, we have been asked by Herts & West Essex Integrated Care Board (formerly the local CCGs) to provide some information around practice equipment and workforce skills across the area. We have had a number of responses but would be grateful for as many replies as possible as we hope it will strengthen our push for commissioned services in our areas, although nothing can be guaranteed, of course.

   This data will be held by us for future use and some of the data will be shared with the ICB, but only in numbers, not personal details. You will NOT be committing to anything. We will be happy to answer any questions you may have on this at Admin@HertsLOC.org.uk

   The survey can be found HERE.

   Thank you very much if you have already completed the survey, and if not please could you do so by 10pm on Sunday 14th August.

   Many thanks for your help with this.

2. E+N Herts NHS Trust (Lister) Saturday Hours
   
   We are advised that in order to be seen on a Saturday at the Urgent Eye Clinic at Lister, patients must arrive by 12.00 Noon, in order to be triaged by a nurse. Please remember that the referring clinician should contact the department to discuss the case with the Ophthalmologist prior to referral on 01438 288 266.

   We have updated our referral contact list, HERE, which you are welcome to download, bookmark and/or print.

   The lack of out of hours cover in our area is a significant issue that Jane, our Chair, continues to raise at every relevant meeting and opportunity. All three CCGs and the Trusts are very aware of the ongoing problems this causes to both patient and practitioner. We hope that a solution can now be found since we have become an Integrated Care Board (ICB). 

3. Vouchers at a Glance – FODO
   FODO have issued their popular list of GOS voucher values, HERE, for you to download and print. We hope you find it useful.
4. What’s New in Refractive Surgery – CPD Webinar
   
   Optegra are running another of their CPD webinars, “What’s New in Refractive Surgery” on Tue, Aug 30, 2022 between 6:45 PM – 8:00 PM BST, presented by Mr Amir Hamid, Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon (BMedSci, BMBS, FRCOphth, CertLRS). 

   They say: “One interactive CPD will be available. Delegates will receive updated information on What’s New in Refractive Surgery. They will get the opportunity to ask questions and test their knowledge through poll questions.” 

   Further information and the link to register can be found HERE.

5. FODO News
   Their update from 29th July is HERE, including “Booking opens for National Optical Conference 2022 Leeds”, “NICE seeks diabetic retinopathy guideline committee members”, “Inflation and shop price pressures rise” and “Fewer dental check-ups in England and Wales”.

   The newsletter from 5th August, HERE, includes “New video explains GOC education and training requirements”, “Webinar to reveal more about latest AMD drug” and “College unveils new vision”.

Kind regards

Herts LOC