Access to free PPE – update from DHSC
4 August 2020
PPE Portal: Phase 2
Healthcare providers can now order additional personal protective equipment (PPE) through the PPE Portal to top up their existing supplies for COVID-19.
The Department of Health and Social Care have previously invited GPs, residential care homes, domiciliary care providers and pharmacies to use the PPE Portal. They are now implementing the next phase of the rollout and are looking to add Optometrists and Dispensing Opticians to the PPE Portal throughout the week commencing Monday 17th August 2020 to order free PPE.
In order to receive an invitation to register with the portal and subsequently order PPE from it, contractors will need to have a NHS mail account. Please ensure that you have created this account by Wednesday 12th August so you can make use of the PPE Portal as soon as you are eligible.
NHS Mail Applications:
For a limited time, there is a more streamlined process for GOS contracting practices to obtain a NHS mail account which requires the completion of an online form found here
Creating a new account via this process is taking no more than 2 weeks, and the requirement to complete the DSPT toolkit has been deferred until September 2020. If you already have a NHS Mail account, please complete the online form if you haven’t already done so to ensure your details are logged by DHSC – we will be receiving weekly updates of new accounts and will be using these lists to invite contractors to access the PPE Portal.
If you have any queries regarding the PPE Portal, please ring our Customer Service team on 0800 876 6802.
Berkshire LOC Latest News
Optometrist Referral Pathways Survey – request for help
Emily Charlesworth is a postdoctoral research fellow at Anglia Ruskin University, and is currently distributing a survey to investigate how optometrists refer into secondary care and which referral pathways exist in different areas of the UK. If any specific pathways exist the survey will ask further questions regarding the optometrist’s experience of using these …
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23 April 2024
Frimley Post Cataract Service
The Frimley post-cataract service is now up and running well. Specifically beneficial for practices located in East Berkshire or those on the borders of this area, the service boasts sufficient funding to operate smoothly and effectively. Patients who opt for this service can expect a streamlined process for post-operative care, ensuring that they receive …
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19 April 2024
REGO Update
Please find below an update regarding the REGO platform: The implementation of the urgent referral button is still pending. Please check your dashboard regularly to ensure that any bounced back referrals are actioned. Please get in touch should you have any questions or require further clarification.
19 April 2024
LOCSU and LOC Levy Rate
Dear Berkshire contractors and performers, I am writing to inform you of the decision made by the LOC to increase the levy rate from the current 0.5% to 0.8%. This decision follows careful consideration of our financial situation and the evolving needs of our committee. The decision to increase the levy rate is based on …
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19 April 2024
SpaMedica Referrals
Due to changes in the pathway of cataract referrals in the NHS Berkshire, Oxfordshire, and Buckinghamshire ICB (BOB), SpaMedica are only accepting cataract referrals from those practices that have the Rego platform, by the Rego platform. When the Rego platform is available in a practice, we are no longer accepting cataract referrals sent directly from …
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19 April 2024
New general ophthalmic services fees
New general ophthalmic services fees for 2024/25 From 1 April 2024, there is new guidance setting out fees for general ophthalmic services, including: NHS sight test fee and NHS domiciliary fees NHS optical voucher values continuing education and training payment for 2023, payable in 2024 grant payable to supervisors of pre-registration trainees You can read the guidance …
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3 April 2024
CPD Webinar: The Evolution of Glaucoma Filtering Services in Primary Care
CPD Webinar The Evolution of Glaucoma Filtering Services in Primary Care REGISTER HERE Dear Colleague, The Professional Development Team at Primary Eyecare Services are delighted to present our inaugural CPD webinar: The Evolution of Glaucoma Filtering Services in Primary Care (in England) Monday 4th March at 7:00pm via Microsoft Teams This event is aimed at …
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25 February 2024
RNIB Low Vision Centre CPD Event
Dear LOC colleague The RNIB Low Vision Centre is pleased to inform you of a CPD event for Optometrists and Dispensing Opticians on: Wednesday 20th March 2024 6pm to 8.30pm at: Royal National Institute of Blind People Grimaldi Building 154a Pentonville Road London N1 9JE This event will include 3 interactive CPD points (applied for), …
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13 February 2024
Is everyone in your practice learning disability and autism aware?
The Health and Social Care Act 2022 has made it a requirement of all CQC regulated health and care providers that all their staff – clinical and administrative – receive mandatory learning disability and autism awareness training by people with lived experience. Health Education England has developed the Oliver McGowan mandatory learning disability and …
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13 February 2024
Berkshire LOC CPD Event – 5th of March
Berkshire LOC CPD Evening Join us for an exciting evening of Continuing Professional Development (CPD) at the Berkshire LOC CPD Evening. This in-person event will take place on Tue March 5th 2024, 5:30 – 9:00pm at the Wokingham Cricket Club. Our event aims to provide a relaxed and informal setting for eye care professionals to …
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3 February 2024