Local NHS and GOS Information
General GOS contractors guidance for optometry contractors in the South East (updated May 2026) :
The guidance ‘General Information for GOS contractors and stakeholders v2 May 2026 ‘ has information regarding:
1. How to contact the Regional Optometry Commissioning Hub Team
2. Setting up an NHS.net Connect shared email account or Egress access
3. NHS Safeguarding Guide
4. Reporting Temporary Suspensions of Service
5. NHS PCSE
6. NHS BSA
7. Annual Returns
8. Quality in Optometry
9. Complaints and incidents
10. Interpretation and Translation (T&I) Services
11. Quarterly PPV Exercise undertaken by NHS BSA for GOS payments
GOS enquiries and also queries about eligibility should be directed to the South East Optometry Commissioning Hub via email – frimleyicb.southeastoptometry@nhs.net
MECC – Making Every Conversation Count
If you wish to provide information to patients about healthy lifestyle choices, please see below a list of the different local support available:
Healthy Hearts webpage includes an interactive map of healthy lifestyle services (weight management, smoking, alcohol etc) Healthy Hearts :: NHS Hampshire and Isle of Wight
Hive Directory | Hive Portsmouth
Search | Hampshire CTSH – Connect to Support Hampshire
Home – So:Linked – Southampton
Isle Find It : Service Directory for the Isle of Wight
Hampshire and Isle of Wight Smoking Cessation website – here
SeeAbility
SeeAbility is a charity that specialise in supporting people who have learning disabilities or autism, who may also have sight loss. They have a database on their website, designed to support patients with learning disabilities and autism find practices who are happy to accommodate their needs.
SeeAbility use this valuable resource to support local healthcare professionals and patients with learning disabilities to find accessible care.
Hampshire and Isle of Wight have only a handful of practices on this database at present, and some details were found to be out of date on a recent check. The central criteria for signing up to this database is simply to be welcoming for patients with learning disabilities.
The LOC would greatly appreciate any local practitioners or practice owners submitting their practice to their database if they feel they can welcome patients with learning disabilities, to improve access of care for these patients.
Useful information for the website includes:
- Name of practice
- Address
- Phone number
- Website
- Details of other services such as – disabled or blue badge parking, wheelchair access to test room, hearing loop
Please email your information or any questions you may have to eyecare@seeability.org.
Low Vision Support and ECLOs
OpenSight is a Hampshire based charity dedicated to supporting individuals living with, or at risk of, low vision or blindness. OpenSight will provide free low vision assessments to patients. Patients will need to pay for any visual aid supports.
List of locations and times of support groups for patients: https://opensight.org.uk/support-groups/
If you want to refer a patient to OpenSight: https://opensight.org.uk/make-a-referral/
Eye Care Liaison Officers (ECLO) provide both emotional support and practical advice and information to anybody who is affected by sight loss.
Queen Alexandra Hospital
Full ECLO service is currently offered by the RNIB until a new Portsmouth ECLO is put in place
RNIB can be contacted via email – rnib.locumreferrals@nhs.net
or, phone 0300 373 9033
University Southampton General
There is not currently an ECLO at Southampton
If you know of anyone having substantial difficulties managing with their sight loss, hearing loss or both, anyone can make a direct referral to Hampshire County Council
Visit their website – here
or, phone 0300 555 1386
Southampton sensory team website – here
Communication Support/Translation Services
For non-spoken language services (BSL, lip speakers, deafblind communicators etc) use Deaf Action in the first instance – here
or, Lipspeaker UK – here
For Isle of Wight, use ISS Communications – here
For spoken language translations, Language Line provides all spoken language services across HIOW since December 2023. In order to use Language Line, optometrists will need to hold an NHS GOS contract and each GOS contractor site will be assigned a unique “Client ID”. Client IDs are currently being rolled out based on local needs. If you haven’t yet been provided with a Client ID, please email – hiowicb-hsi.hantsplaceprimarycare@nhs.net
To book a translation appointment with Language Line, dial 0800 313 4000, choose Option 1, type your Client ID, speak the language required, then retype your Client ID. Ideally appointments should be booked at least 48 hours in advance.
A useful “point to your language” guide can be found – here
Complaints
Should a patient wish to complain about their NHS care to the ICB they can do so via any of the below
Website – Hampshire & Isle of Wight ICB Patient Experience and Complaints – here
Email – hiowicb-hsi.patientexperience@nhs.net
Post – Patient Experience and Complaints,
Hampshire and Isle of Wight Integrated Care Board,
Omega House,
112 Southampton Road,
Eastleigh,
Hampshire,
SO50 5PB
Telephone – 0300 561 2561 (answerphone facility available)