Referrals, Vacancy, CPD, FODO News

12 February 2025

We have 4 items for you today:

1. Referrals in Hertfordshire, including Watford and CHEC
   We have been advised that practices are being told by another provider that CHEC’s contract is being decommissioned next year. The ICB have confirmed that this is NOT THE CASE and the relevant provider has been told to stop giving out inaccurate information. When and if there be any changes, we will let you know.

   As previously advised, you can refer all Patients with a GP in Herts directly to any provider that has an NHS contract for that service and offers direct referrals.

   Further to our previous email, Watford is also accepting direct referrals by emailing westherts.ophthalmology@nhs.net

   You can only refer to a provider directly if the patient has specifically requested a particular provider themselves, or the NHS patient choice criteria have been met in full. This can be difficult to achieve, especially for anything other than Cataracts, when we do not have access to the full NHS data such as waiting lists. See the link below for further information on Patient Choice. The ICB advise that if full patient choice has not been given, the referral must still go via the GP in East and North, or the CHEC portal in South and West.

   https://www.england.nhs.uk/long-read/patient-choice-guidance/

   Any questions should be sent to the LOC in the first instance at admin@hertsloc.org.uk and we will forward them to the ICB.

2. Hospital Optometrist Vacancy
   
   East and North Herts NHS Trust (Lister) advise that they have a vacancy for a full time Optometrist. Further information and contact details can be found HERE.
3. CPD Webinar Wednesday 20th November
   Hoya are running another of their CPD webinars on Wednesday 20th November at 7:30pm, “Decisions, Decisions, Decisions”, presented by Andrew Keirl. Further details and registration can be found HERE.  
4. FODO News
   
   Is HERE, including The College of Optometrists – 500 new optometrists receive diplomas, Survey shows improved access to ophthalmologist cataract training and Preventing blindness in children with rare genetic disease.

 

Kind regards

Herts LOC