Key points from the North Yorkshire Local Optical Committee meeting
23-10-2024
CPD day
Thank you to all those who attended the CPD day at the National Railway Museum on 15/10/24, with a special thanks to the speakers, sponsors and Sarah Smith for organising it.
Communication with contractors/ practitioners locally
If any performers would like their email address added to the LOC mailing list, please contact either the secretary or Chairman. Keep up to date and aware of CPD opportunities by visiting the LOC website.
NHS Net mail
It is a requirement for NHS mail to be logged into monthly to keep the account active. There is now a 2 stage verification process for nhs.net emails to be sent. This has restricted some Opticians with only one nhs.net account but multiple practitioners in store using this referral method. Having a store mobile so the authentication code goes to that phone to be used for referrals that day can be useful.
Single Point of Access (SPOA)
The Single point of access for North Yorkshire is the Choice Office. Everything comes into this one filter and then is filtered down e.g. MECS, CUES, referrals, urgency and a phone line. Currently if the patient’s preferred provider (e.g. Asda Opticians in York with one CUES appointment a week) cannot fulfil the appointment within the timescale then the patient rings the triage number which extends the lead time to be seen by another provider (e.g. Specsavers). The ICB is interested in having other SPOA in neighbouring areas.
Local Optical Network
Task forces are being set up and it was asked that LOC committee members cover sub-specialities so the LOC has a voice. These would be zoom meetings online with the ICB clinical lead. The sub-specialities include: cataracts, medical retina, learning disabilities, glaucoma and urgent care.
Financial report
The current and savings account are very healthy. Accounts show money for the hypertension scheme and the workforce funding scheme. The main outgoings were for licence fees, service charges and retention fees. The statutory levy remains as it was, however the adjustment to 0.75% has been requested again.
Any other business
If there were enough demand (~10 clinicians), a WOPEC exam could be put on and funded by the LOC to encourage more practitioners on the MECS and other schemes.
The date of the next LOC meeting is Tuesday 7th January 2025 at The Crown Hotel in Boroughbridge at 7pm. Buffet provided from 6.30pm.
Notice of Relocation: NHS England & Improvement – Primary Care Team (West Yorkshire & Harrogate)
I am writing to let you know that our Primary Care Team, which covers the West Yorkshire and Harrogate area, has now moved from Leeds City Office Park to Quarry House in Leeds.
Our new address, with immediate effect, is:
Primary Care Commissioning North East and Yorkshire
NHS England & NHS Improvement 6E05
Quarry House
Quarry Hill
Leeds
LS2 7UE
You will still be able to contact members of the primary care team by email as you have done previously, however, please note that all land line numbers have been deactivated and replaced with mobile numbers. A full list of contact numbers can be found attached to this letter.
Our Primary Care Contracting email accounts remain the same, please continue to use these as they are monitored regularly throughout the day by members of the team. A list of the Optometry email accounts is listed herewith.
England.wy-optometrycontracting@nhs.net.
for any optometry GOS contract issues or queries