Nov 2026: The LPC (Local Pharmacy Committee) want to raise awareness of the NHS Hypertension Case-Finding Service (HCFS), which is available through many community pharmacies across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.<\/p>\n
The service supports the early detection of high blood pressure by offering in-pharmacy blood pressure checks to eligible patients, with ambulatory blood pressure monitoring available where clinically appropriate. Early identification and management of hypertension can help reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, stroke and other serious health conditions.<\/p>\n
We would be grateful if optical practices could consider signposting eligible patients<\/a>\u00a0who may benefit from a blood pressure check to their local participating community pharmacy. All pharmacies should offer HCFS, but there could be the odd one that may have had to suspend service temporarily for various reasons; that should be reflected in NHS service finder: Find a pharmacy that offers free blood pressure checks – NHS<\/a><\/p>\n The guidance ‘General Information for GOS contractors and stakeholders v2 May 2026 ‘ <\/a>has information regarding:<\/p>\n 1. How to contact the Regional Optometry Commissioning Hub Team<\/p>\n 2. Setting up an NHS.net Connect shared email account or Egress access<\/p>\n 3. NHS Safeguarding Guide<\/p>\n 4. Reporting Temporary Suspensions of Service<\/p>\n 5. NHS PCSE<\/p>\n 6. NHS BSA<\/p>\n 7. Annual Returns<\/p>\n 8. Quality in Optometry<\/p>\n 9. Complaints and incidents<\/p>\n 10. Interpretation and Translation (T&I) Services<\/p>\n 11. Quarterly PPV Exercise undertaken by NHS BSA for GOS payments<\/p>\n GOS enquiries and also queries about eligibility should be directed to the South East Optometry Commissioning Hub via email – tvicb.southeastoptometry@nhs.net (new email address Aug 2026)<\/p>\n If you wish to provide information to patients about healthy lifestyle choices, please see below a list of the different local support available:<\/p>\n Healthy Hearts webpage includes an interactive map of healthy lifestyle services (weight management, smoking, alcohol etc) <\/span>Healthy Hearts :: NHS Hampshire and Isle of Wight<\/a><\/p>\n Hive Directory | Hive Portsmouth<\/a><\/p>\n Search | Hampshire CTSH<\/a>\u00a0\u2013 Connect to Support Hampshire<\/p>\n Home – So:Linked<\/a>\u00a0\u2013 Southampton<\/p>\n Isle Find It : Service Directory for the Isle of Wight<\/a><\/p>\n Hampshire and Isle of Wight Smoking Cessation website – here<\/a><\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n SeeAbility use this valuable resource to support local healthcare professionals and patients with learning disabilities to find accessible care.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Useful information for the website includes:<\/p>\n Please email your information or any questions you may have to\u00a0eyecare@seeability.org.<\/p>\n For non-spoken language services (BSL, lip speakers, deafblind communicators etc) use Deaf Action<\/strong> in the first instance – here<\/a> For Isle of Wight, use ISS Communications – here<\/a><\/p>\n For spoken language translations, Language Line<\/strong> 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<\/a><\/p>\n To book a translation appointment with Language Line<\/strong>, \u00a0dial 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.<\/p>\n A useful “point to your language” guide can be found – here<\/a><\/p>\n Should a patient wish to complain about their NHS care to the ICB they can do so via any of the below<\/p>\n Website – Hampshire & Isle of Wight ICB Patient Experience and Complaints – here<\/a><\/p>\nLocal NHS and GOS Information<\/h1>\n
General GOS contractors guidance for optometry contractors in the South East (updated May 2026) :\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n
MECC – Making Every Conversation Count<\/h1>\n
SeeAbility<\/h1>\n
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Communication Support\/Translation Services<\/h1>\n
\nor, Lipspeaker UK<\/strong> – here<\/a><\/p>\nComplaints<\/h1>\n