AMD CPD Webinar, Glaucoma Training, PCSE Bulletin And FODO News

6 September 2023

We have 4 items for you today:

1. AMD CPD Webinar 12th September
   
   Scope Eyecare advise:
   “We would like to invite you to join us for a webinar hosted by Mike Horler, consultant optometrist in medical retina at Sussex eye hospital. The title is AMD – Doing the best for our patients now and in the future, it is scheduled for Tuesday 12th September 2023 7:00pm – 8:00pm and is worth 1 CPD point.
    
   There is an invite HERE or the following link will take you to the signup PDF – AMD- doing the best for your patients now and in the future.”
2. Glaucoma Training for OA, Reception and other non-qualified staff
   Glaucoma UK are currently offering training for non-qualified staff, but asking for feedback afterwards so they can continue to develop and improve the course. They say:

   “We are about to run a pilot training for optometrist staff – particularly front of house/ non clinical staff rather than optometrists themselves. We understand how pivotal optometrist practices are in the diagnosis and care of glaucoma, and that queries relating to glaucoma may increasingly be finding their way to you, due to capacity in the hospital system. I would like to invite staff members at practices within the LOC to join a training session. The training is provided free of charge, along with a box of eye drop dispensing aids and resources – all we are asking for in return is honest feedback on the training so that we can get it right and roll it out more widely across the UK. 

   The training covers what glaucoma is, common challenges people face with administering eye drops and ideas for troubleshooting these, other glaucoma treatments, and where staff can go for more support if they are unsure how to help customers with glaucoma. Research has shown that more than 50% of people with glaucoma do not take their eye drops as prescribed, and this could be leading to avoidable vision loss from glaucoma. We are also hearing from more optometrists who are getting walk in eye drop queries as they are unable to speak to anyone at their clinic – so we devised this training to give background and knowledge for these situations.
    
   Please find HERE a flyer with more information. If you have any questions, please contact professionals@glaucoma.uk .”
    

3. PCSE Ophthalmic Bulletin August 2023
   
   Primary Care Support England have issued their latest bulletin, HERE, including:
    • Mandating online electronic forms
    • Paper GOS claim rejections
    • PVN cancellation verification
    • CET window is open
    • Updated statement view – levy contributions and Point of Service fees
    • Risk to inactive users on PCSE Online
4. FODO News
   Is HERE, including Cochrane review – blue-light filtering lenses, College consultation on Guidance for Professional Practice and OCT features associated with Parkinson’s disease. Their update from 18th August can be found HERE, including the GOC has announced that 12 qualifications have met its new education and training requirements, Love Your Lenses Week will occur from 4-10 September and NICE is consulting on its draft guideline on diabetic retinopathy (DR).

Kind regards

Herts LOC