Latest News from Dorset LOC – 21 August 2026

21 August 2026

Have Your Say: Ophthalmic Payments Service Review

NHS England has commissioned a discovery exercise to better understand the current Ophthalmic Payments Service and identify opportunities for improvement.

They are keen to hear from colleagues who have experience using or working with the service. Your feedback will help identify challenges, understand local processes, and capture any business rules or workarounds that support the current system.

How to Get Involved

Complete the online survey by 10 September 2026
Complete the Microsoft Form

OR

Join an informal Microsoft Teams drop-in session

Session 1
Wednesday 2 September 2026
12:00pm to 1:00pm
Join Session 1

Session 2
Tuesday 8 September 2026
4:00pm to 5:00pm

Join session 2

Microsoft Teams joining details are available via the calendar invitation.

There is no need to book and you are welcome to join for as much or as little of the session as suits you. You may also complete the survey and attend a drop-in session if you would like to provide additional feedback.

Your contribution will play an important role in shaping future improvements to the Ophthalmic Payments Service.

Reminder: Quality in Optometry (QiO) 2025-2028 Submission

Action Required for GOS Contractors

Optometry Southwest has issued a reminder for all General Ophthalmic Services (GOS) contractors to complete their Quality in Optometry (QiO) 2025-2028 self-assessment submission, a mandatory requirement under GOS contractual terms.

The QiO process is a national assurance programme designed to support consistency, safety and quality across optometry services in England. Contractors are required to complete a self-assessment once every three years via the LOCSU-hosted QiO portal.

Key Information

South West Submission Deadline:
11:59pm on Friday 27 November 2026

Complete your submission via the QiO Portal:
Access the QiO Portal

Contractors who have already completed their submission do not need to take any further action.

Need Support?

If you require advice or assistance with your submission, please contact Optometry Southwest or your Local Optical Committee (LOC). A shared learning and best practice document from the previous 2022-2025 cycle was included with the original communication to help support practices.

Please note: Completion of the QiO return is a contractual requirement. Contractors who have not submitted by the deadline will be contacted about their outstanding return.

Research Opportunity: Share Your Views on AS-OCT in Children’s Eye Care

Researchers at UCL and Great Ormond Street Hospital, in collaboration with the College of Optometrists and Ulster University, are seeking input from optometrists on the potential role of anterior segment OCT (AS-OCT) in children’s eye care.

The research team, led by Professor Lola Solebo and Dr Sonali Dave, is currently investigating whether AS-OCT could help detect and monitor uveitis in children at risk, including those with conditions such as juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) and other immune-mediated eye diseases. Looking ahead, AS-OCT may have wider applications in community settings for the detection and monitoring of uveitis in both children and adults.

To help inform future service development, the team would like to understand optometrists’ views on the feasibility of using AS-OCT in practice, including considerations around capacity, infrastructure, and how such services might fit within current community eye care funding models.

The survey is open to all optometrists working in settings that see children, regardless of whether they currently have access to AS-OCT. It takes approximately 5-10 minutes to complete.

Complete the survey: AS-OCT Community Eye Care Survey

If you have any questions about the study, please contact Dr Sonali Dave at sonali.dave@ucl.ac.uk.

Help Shape Low Vision Services in Dorset

The University of Manchester, in partnership with LOCSU, is mapping the provision of low vision services within primary care optometry practices across England.

Practices in Dorset are invited to complete a short survey to help build a clearer picture of current low vision service provision. The survey takes less than 5 minutes to complete.

Complete the survey here:
Low Vision Services Survey

The findings will be used to support, promote and inform the future development of primary care optometry low vision pathways.

Thank you for taking the time to contribute to this important work. Your input is greatly appreciated.