Central Alerting System Emails, Diabetic Eye Program Email, CPD Form And Webinar, FODO News

7 May 2024

We have 5 items for you today:

1. Central Alerting System Emails
   We have been asked to forward the information below regarding the cascading of Central Alerting System Notifications by email. Should you have any queries regarding the information they give, or if you are a contractor and are concerned that you may not be receiving the alert emails, please contact the Optometry team at Herts and West Essex ICB at hweicbhv.optical@nhs.net
   

   Dear colleague,

   The Optometry Contracting Team are aware that our optometry contractors may not receive the Central Alerting System (CAS) notifications as other contractor groups do.

   I am sure you are aware but for clarity, the CAS is a web-based cascading system for issuing patient safety alerts, important public health messages and other safety critical information and guidance to the NHS and others, including independent providers of health and social care. It is an electronic cascade system originally developed by the Department of Health and now delivered by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). The CAS is a key means to communicate important safety information to the NHS, requiring action to address risks to patient safety.

   With this in mind, the Optometry Contracting Team will be sharing a list with the MRHA to ensure that you begin to receive any CAS notifications that are issued in relation to optometry. The list will be shared with the MHRA on the 1st May and will contain the following:

   •            The email address we hold for you on our Ophthalmic database

   •            The full name of your practice and your NHS ODS code

   •            The full address of your practice.

   If you have any objections to the above information being shared with the MHRA, please do let the Optometry Contracting Team know by emailing hweicbhv.optical@nhs.net no later than Wednesday 24th April 2024.

2. Corrected email address for new Diabetic Eye Programme provider
   Hertfordshire Community Trust (HCT), who are the new provider for the Diabetic Eye Programme, advise that the previous contact email they gave was incorrect. They say:

   “In March, we sent a note to notify you of the change in provider for the Diabetic Eye Screening Programme across Hertfordshire and West Essex from 1 April 2024.

   There was a slight error in the email address shared. Please note the correct email address for the new service is hct.hwedesp@nhs.net

   The telephone number remains the same: 01442 285 854.

   We apologise for any inconvenience caused. 

   Kind regards

   HCT Communications team

   Hertfordshire Community NHS Trust

   Howard Court | 14 Tewin Road | Welwyn Garden City | AL7 1BW

   www.hct.nhs.uk 

3. What CPD do you need? – Thanks for the replies
   Thank you to everyone who has completed the form on our last newsletter regarding what CPD you need for the rest of this cycle. Your suggestions have been taken on board and we will come back to you with further events. 

   We note that a couple of people asked questions but did not include their details. If you completed the form and wanted a reply but haven’t had one, or if you have any questions regarding our CPD, please email admin@hertsloc.org.uk 

   The form is still open for anyone else to let us know what CPD they need, HERE.

4. CPD webinar on 23 April 2024
   
   DOCET will be running a webinar: “Leadership is not hierarchical – Learning from OCCS complaints.” on Tuesday  23rd April at 7:30pm. We are advised that there is one interactive point available for Optometrists. You do not have to be a member of the College of Optometrists to attend, but you will need to register for a free account on their website if you are not. Further details and registration can be found HERE. 

   Dispensing Opticians who are ABDO members can find also find CPD  in their “Standards of Practice” modules, HERE.

5. FODO News
   Is HERE, including College campaigns to tackle driving glare, Tech update – AI and LLM and ACLM reports 3.9 million contact lens wearers.

 

Kind regards

Herts LOC