Menu

Cheshire LOC logo

Opera IT Platform Coming Soon – Be Ready!

12 October 2020

Opera IT Platform Coming Soon – Be Ready!

9 October 2020

In August we announced that a new long-term IT partner, FDS Consultants, has been selected to provide a single IT platform for Primary Eyecare and our partner LOCs and optical practices.

We anticipate starting the transition from OptoManager to the Opera platform from November 2020 and earlier today we sent an email to all Practices and Practitioners regarding preparations for this work.

Click here to read the email.

Primary Eyecare Is Now CQC Registered

Primary Eyecare recently underwent evaluation by the Care Quality Commission, the independent regulator of health and social care. The evaluation was successful and Primary Eyecare is now an accredited CQC provider.

This will enable Primary Eyecare to lead the delivery of a wider range of services, supporting more care being delivered through optical practices now and in the future.

CUES Available From Over 700 Practices

The CUES service has now been commissioned by 37 CCGS, with 4 new areas set to go live in the coming weeks. Over 700 Practices are registered to deliver the service across the country, which can be located via our Find a Practice tool which allows GPs and patients to search for participating practices.

CUES allows patients to be seen quickly and conveniently while reducing the risk of Covid-19 infection and relieving pressure on hospitals. Click here to read how a patient in Oldham benefitted from the early commissioning of CUES, receiving a video consultation to treat a foreign body injury.

CUES Onboarding

The CUES registration/ onboarding portal is currently suspended whilst we transition to the new full onboarding system for Opera (see above). Therefore, Practices cannot register for CUES at this time. We anticipate that we will be back online and able to process CUES Practice registrations in the coming week. Affected Practices will be contacted by the PES onboarding team to let them know when they can register.

Please note the Practitioner registration portal for CUES remains active and Practices that have already registered for CUES and signed a contract with us can continue to add Practitioners to the CUES service and OPERA system.

If you have any queries in regards to the CUES service and or onboarding in general please visit the OPERA platform and post your query in the ‘help bubble’.

Service Notifications

Countess of Chester Hospital – Post Cataract Service
This service is due to go live w/c 12 October 2020. Practices in the area can still register to deliver this service, emails have been sent to Practices in the area outlining how to register or please us via info@primaryeyecare.co.uk. Please note this service will be managed on OPTOManager at this time.Bury Enhanced Pre-Operative and Post Cataract Follow Up Service
This service is due to go live w/c 12 October 2020. Practices in the area can still register to deliver this service, emails have been sent to Practices in the area outlining how to register or please contact the team on info@primaryeyecare.co.uk. Please note this service will be managed on OPTOManager at this time.A joint Primary Eyecare and GM East LOC launch event is taking place on 12 October 2020 at 7pm on Zoom. Please click here to join the webinar. Passcode: 391076

Bolton Glaucoma Repeat Readings (GRR)
This service is live, however Practices in this area can still register to deliver this service, if you are interested please contact the team on info@primaryeyecare.co.uk

Could You Be a Board Director?

Primary Eyecare is growing quickly and we are seeking to appoint new Board Directors to add new energy to our experienced team, to ensure the board is able to provide effective governance and oversight and help guide our future success. Our Board Directors play an important role as champions of the organisation and the eye care services we deliver.

Applications are sought from individuals with experience as a contractor or performer of eye care services, as well as wide-ranging senior leadership experience including financial responsibility. Watch out for further information on how to apply.

Cheshire LOC Latest News

Interpreting Services (Spoken Word and BSL)

  FAO Cheshire and Merseyside Primary Care Optical Contractors- Interpreting services (Spoken word and BSL) Cheshire and Merseyside ICB are confirming with you that we have a provider of interpreting services for optical contractors holding a GOS contract for spoken word and BSL (British Sign Language). The single provider of interpreting services across Cheshire and …

8 March 2024

Dispensing Optician Vacancy – Bayfields Opticians, Chester

Are you looking for a new and exciting opportunity?  If yes, we are looking for a focused, professional and motivated Dispensing Optician (40 hours a week: 9.00am – 5.30pm flexible, Monday to Saturday) to join our team in Chester. When you join Bayfields Opticians and Audiologists, you are joining an independent business.   Although we are …

15 January 2024

Hold the Date! Cheshire LOC AGM – 15 April 2024

The Cheshire LOC AGM will be held on Monday 15th April 2024 at The Fox and Hounds, Holmes Chapel Road, Sproston, Cheshire, CW4 7LW All welcome, please put the date in your diary.

5 December 2023

Funding

Cheshire LOC are immensely pleased to confirm that a recent application to Cheshire & Merseyside ICB Transformation Fund has been successful.  A substantial award has been approved with the objective of upskilling the Optometrist workforce in Cheshire and Mersey.  The education funding will be offered to Optometrists working in Cheshire (there is also funding for …

26 October 2023

Sight Loss Information Line

There is a sight loss information line that is a National Lottery funded project in partnership with NHS England, Cheshire West and Chester, Cheshire East Council, Vision Support and East Cheshire Eye Society.

30 June 2023

CPD – Local Optometrist Update Meeting – Leighton Hospital

  All local optometrists are invited to this event hosted by Leighton Hospital, which will be chaired by Clinical Lead and Consultant Ophthalmologist, Manoj Kulshrestha. Local Optometrist Update Meeting Thursday 29th June 2023 Post graduate centre, Leighton Hospital 5.30pm-9.00pm 2 Interactive CET points are being applied for Please email Sandie McBennett (sandiemcbennett.cheshireloc@gmail.com) if you would …

12 June 2023

Practices Wanted to Deliver Community Learning Disabilities Pathway

  Make a Difference – Practices Wanted To Deliver Community Learning Disabilities Pathway – Primary Eyecare Services Webinar registration | Microsoft Teams Make a Difference – Practices Wanted To Deliver Community Learning Disabilities Pathway – Primary Eyecare Services Primary Eyecare is re-shaping and re-launching a new Single Point of Access referral pathway for people with …

12 June 2023

Cheshire LOC Meetings

The next meeting of the Cheshire LOC will be held on Tuesday 4th July 2023 at 7.00pm on Teams.  Observers welcome. Please contact sandiemcbennett.cheshireloc@gmail.com for a Teams invite. The following meetings will be held in person at the Fox and Hounds, Sproston, CW4 7LW: Wednesday 13th September 2023 at 6.30pm Thursday 7th December 2023 at …

3 May 2023

Practice for sale

Practice for sale Mullens, The Opticians at Weaverham Currently 2 day testing 800 tests/yr Avg Net Profit £85k over 3 yrs Very low Overheads No Competition Nidek test equipment Aircon Diabetic Screening/CUES Contact David:  lunds_dids@hotmail.com

3 April 2023

Cheshire LOC Meeting – Tuesday 2nd May 2023

The next meeting of the Cheshire LOC will be held on Tuesday 2nd May 2023  at 6.30pm, in person at the Fox and Hounds, Sproston, CW4 7LW. Observers welcome, please contact sandiemcbennett.cheshireloc@gmail.com if you would like to attend.

23 March 2023

LOCSU Latest news

OFNC – Derisory GOS Fee Imposed by DHSC

Government has today announced that it has decided to impose another real-terms cut to the NHS sight test fee.

26 March 2024

Follow Cheshire LOC for news on meetings, events and CET