Requests for diagnostic testing
4 March 2021
We have been notified of practitioners being requested to perform IOP checks and/or visual fields on Glaucoma/OHT patients who are under the care and review of the HES, but have had their appointments delayed due to the global pandemic. We have also been alerted to requests of imaging for these patients.
These requests sit outside the scope of GOS and require local protocols and services to be in place to allow payment to optical practices for such testing. If the patient is not due a routine GOS examination, conducting and claiming for a GOS examination in these circumstances is not appropriate.
We have highlighted the scope of GOS to our secondary care colleagues and have invited discussions to work towards locally commissioned services to alleviate the pressures on secondary care.
Please alert NTW LOC to any such requests from our secondary care colleagues so that we can continue to feedback during discussions.
Northumberland, Tyne and Wear LOC Latest News
EeRS Electronic Referral Platform pilot
The rollout of the ‘EyeV’ electronic referral platform for the North East and North Cumbria (NENC) pilot across Optometry continues. Details regarding how to onboard an Optometrist or an Optometry practice can be found HERE There is no funding to support practices with onboarding and accessing this. EyeV is not a commissioned Enhanced Optometry Service …
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2 October 2024
Glaucoma Services Patient Discharges from NuTH (Oct 2024)
For those Optometry practices registered to accept stable glaucoma and OHT monitoring. NuTH have now begun to discharge patients from into this service, so please ensure that you regularly check your OPERA platform. Patients will appear in the “action required” section on OPERA. Please check the documents that have been attached to the …
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2 October 2024
Glaucoma Enhanced Referral Service (GERS)
August 2024 Please see below for the pathway for glaucoma patients across Northumberland, North Tyneside and Newcastle Gateshead. Please remember that patients who have a sight test at your practice and who are identified as having raised IOP and/or glaucomatous visual field loss with no other indication of glaucoma should be seen within GRR. …
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2 September 2024
Staff Wellbeing Hub
Fast and Confidential Individual Support The Staff Mental Health and Wellbeing Hub is free, easy to access, and offers confidential support for any member of staff. The support might be needed for challenges at work, at home, or both. The Hub is open to anyone who works in health or social care in the North …
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17 July 2024
Glaucoma Repeat Readings
July 2024 Dear Colleagues, During a recent audit of the GRR service it has become apparent that some practices and practitioners are doing the GRR repeat readings on the same day. The idea of the GRR service is to check whether a raised IOP is a repeatable finding, so the checks need to be done …
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17 July 2024
Glaucoma Enhanced Referral Service – GERS (North of Tyne)
May 2024 Please see below the pathway for glaucoma patients across Northumberland, North Tyneside and Newcastle Gateshead. Remember that patients who have a sight test at your practice and who are identified as having raised IOP and/or glaucomatous visual field loss with no other indication of glaucoma should be seen within GRR. Patients who are …
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16 May 2024
Find all the info regarding commissioned (nhs-funded) services across NTW
Find all the information – HERE Eye Care Electronic Referral System (EeRS) Rolls out North of Tyne – EyeV NTW and Durham LOC have concerns that currently have not been addressed however NuTH are very keen to proceed. The LOC would welcome thoughts and feedback from members to help us shape our ongoing conversations. …
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15 May 2024
North East and North Cumbria Staff Mental Health and Wellbeing Hub
The North East and North Cumbria Staff Mental Health and Wellbeing Hub is open to anyone who works in health or social care in our area (including Optometry). They are a responsive, easy-to-access, and highly confidential source of support. Appointments are with experienced NHS clinicians. The Hub accepts self-referrals or referrals. Fast and Confidential Individual …
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5 May 2024
North East and North Cumbria NHS Plan
The NENC Integrated Care Board have produced a plan for the next few years. The joint forward plan provides a: • strategic overview of the key priorities and objectives for the medium term. • high-level summary of our priorities and objectives • summary of the work programmes we will deliver to achieve our medium-term objectives. …
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25 April 2024
Use NHS Service Finder to obtain GP practice NHS emails
Instructions have been sent to Contractors to help Performers (optometrists) send referrals and communications to GP via NHS mail. Sent Feb 2024. Please remember these should be sent from practice SHARED MAIL BOXES were possible (rather than personal NHS mail addresses) or EGRESS for those who do not have access to NHS mail accounts.
22 February 2024