Cessation of Bucks Ophthalmology Out of Hours cover for MKUK / BLMK
6 November 2024
Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust (BHT) has asked us to remind practitioners that, effective from 4th November 2024, BHT and specifically Eye Casualty at Stoke Mandeville will no longer accept any urgent or out of hours referrals from Milton Keynes University Hospital (A&E or Urgent Care Services), or any other emergency / out of hours referrals from General Practice or Optometry in the BMLK area. This has been agreed by both the trusts and signed off at the executive level for both trusts.
For Out of Hours referrals in the area, please refer to MKUH A&E as that is the agreed referral pathway by the ICB and MKUH.
Buckinghamshire LOC Latest News
AGM 2026
Notification of Annual General Meeting The Annual General Meeting (AGM) of Buckinghamshire Local Optical Committee (LOC) will be held at 8.00pm on Thursday 30th April 2026 via Microsoft Teams. Members are encouraged to attend the meeting, where there will be opportunity to ask questions, vote on resolutions and for committee members. For those unable to …
26 March 2026
OFNC Statement: NHS Sexual Safety Charter Update
Many primary eye care practices will be aware of the recent communication from ICBs and/or NHSE Regional Teams in which they requested practices sign up to the NHS Sexual Safety Charter. After discussing this matter with NHS England, OFNC are now able to provide an update. The request to sign up the charter has been …
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15 March 2026
NHS England Issues Update on GOS Payments
NHS England has issued an update on general ophthalmic services (GOS) fees and payments, including changes to the NHS sight test fee, the 2024 continuing professional development (CPD) payment, and the clinical placement training payment effective from 1 April 2025. Practices are advised to share this information with all staff involved in GOS delivery, including …
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15 February 2026
Final Quarter Check-In: Complete Your PDP
As we approach the end of the first year in our 2025–27 CPD cycle, a quick reminder to complete or review your Personal Development Plan (PDP). Remember, your PDP should evolve with you. You can update it anytime during the cycle to reflect new goals or learning outcomes. It will also be essential for your reflective …
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23 October 2025
Further Update – Ophthalmology Out-of-Hours service for MK – July 2025
We have been advised that, from 1st July 2025, the Ophthalmology Out-of-Hours (OOH) service for BLMK region will operate on a shared rota between Bedford Hospital, Luton & Dunstable University Hospital, and Milton Keynes University Hospital (MKUH). For urgent sight threatening ophthalmology referrals outside of MKUH BUS operating hours, please contact the switchboard on 01908 …
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21 July 2025
Important Update: Ophthalmology Out-of-Hours service for MK from 1st June 2025
Ophthalmology Out of Hours Service We are currently in the process of developing a BLMK-wide Out-of-Hours (OOH) service, which will involve shared cover across the three sites. In the meantime, please note the following important interim update regarding the Ophthalmology OOH service, effective from 1st June 2025: New OOH Service Provider From this date, Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS …
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30 May 2025
MK Ophthalmology service is moving
MKUH NHS Foundation has asked the LOC to share the following information with you: You may be aware that the ophthalmology service at MKUH will be moving to a new site in central Milton Keynes. We will be relocating to the new Community Diagnostic Centre at Lloyds Court, Central Milton Keynes. The clinic will begin …
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13 May 2025
AGM 2025 Update
The nominal date and time for our AGM was 8.00 pm on 28th April. Like last year, no physical meeting was held; instead, AGM papers were posted on our website and all on our database were given the opportunity to pose questions, nominate committee members and vote for resolutions, online. One committee member, Rajesh Shah, was …
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9 May 2025
AGM 2025
The 2025 AGM of Buckinghamshire Local Optical Committee will be at 8.00pm on the evening of 28th April. Like last year, we won’t be holding a physical meeting; instead you will have the opportunity to pose questions, nominate and vote for committee members, and vote for the resolutions, online. Papers will be posted on this …
23 March 2025
NHS Knowledge and Library Services for Optometry Teams
Resources All optometry teams offering NHS-commissioned services and working directly with NHS patients have access to NHS Knowledge and Library Services, such as ebooks, journals, databases and BMJ Best Practice. These resources include specialist ophthalmology and optometry journals and resources on eye conditions. See BLMK Knowledge & Library Resources to sign up for an NHS OpenAthens account, …
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19 February 2025