Help When It’s Needed Most
8 May 2021
Optics has been through a turbulent time over the last year. Although the situation appears to be improving, the Benevolent fund of the College of Optometrists and the Association of Optometrists know there are practitioners who are still in need of support. But as well as the fall-out from Covid, there are the perennial problems associated with illness, disability, family upheaval or bereavement. If your life has been suddenly turned upside down or if circumstances have gradually got to the point where they are overwhelming or unmanageable, they want you to know that they are here to help. All you need to do is email them or pick up the phone.
The fund exists to help people who do not have the immediate resources to get through a crisis. It aims to provide solutions whilst treating everyone with dignity and confidentiality. The Trustees all have a background in optics and approach every case with understanding gained from their varied experiences within optometry.
After a careful assessment of an individual’s circumstances, they will try to provide the means to ease their difficulties and preserve some quality of life. The fund’s assistance may come in various forms including financial grants, debt advice or help with financial management. Sometimes the fund will contract to other organisations to provide the specialist services that applicants need. Every application is unique and is treated as such.
If you, or someone you know, genuinely needs help, please do contact the fund.
To make contact, email: admin@opticalbenfund.com or phone 01376 223800.
Website: www.opticalbenfund.com
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
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3 February 2024