Walk In Vaccinations, Contract Management Proof Of Concept, FODO News

23 May 2021

We have 4 items for you today:

1. Walk-in First Vaccinations, Saturday 15th and Sunday 16th May
   We have been advised by Herts Valleys CCG that there are walk in vaccination opportunities for all over 40s and other permitted groups, including all optical staff, at a number of centres across Hertfordshire and West Essex this weekend without an appointment. Please see the HVCCG update HERE for further information.
2. Contract Administration – Proof of Concept
   NHSEngland’s Primary Care Optometry Team have sent the email below to all contractors, which we have repeated for those who did not receive it or anyone it may affect in the future such as those considering opening their own practice or becoming contractors. Any queries relating to this email should be sent to england.optometryeast@nhs.net
3. Possible Central Venous Sinus Thrombosis (CVST) / Retinal Vein Occlusion (RVO) Link to Covid-19 Vaccination
   The Royal College of Ophthalmologists have issued a safety alert to ophthalmologists, as follows: 

   “The College had considered the recent reports of an increased incidence of Central Venous Sinus Thrombosis (CVST) in the UK and anecdotal cases of retinal vein occlusion (RVO) in the immediate period (28 days) subsequent to COVID vaccination.

   In view of this potential link, the College asks all UK ophthalmologists to consider reporting possible inoculation related cases to the MHRA using their reporting system.”

   Their full statement can be found HERE. We will update you should any further information be received from the AOP, the College of Optometrists or similar.

4. FODO News
   Is HERE, including COVID-19 updates and the Health and Care Bill in the Queen’s Speech.

Kind regards

Herts LOC
 

From: EA-PRIMARYCARE, England (NHS ENGLAND & NHS IMPROVEMENT – X24) <england.ea-primarycare@nhs.net>
Subject: GW3201 – FOR ATTENTION – Contract Administration – Proof of Concept
 

This email has been sent through the East of England Primary Care Gateway process.

Any queries relating to this email should be sent to england.optometryeast@nhs.net

Dear Colleague,

NHS England and NHS Improvement have been working collaboratively with the NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA), an Arm’s Length Body, on a Contract Management Proof of Concept (POC). The POC was initiated in 2019 in the London and South East regions following a national audit that highlighted variation and inconsistency between regions in their approach to processing General Ophthalmic Services (GOS) contract administration requests. The purpose of the POC is to create a standardised, national approach to Contract Management.

We are pleased to inform you that the East of England are the next region to pilot this approach to GOS contract administration and will be starting the POC from Monday 17 May 2021. A briefing, providing further information and the types of requests that the NHSBSA will be dealing with, can be found HERE.

Feedback from contractors and regional colleagues who have been working on the POC since 2019 is extremely positive with evaluation of the service highlighting streamlined processes, applications dealt with in a timely, consistent manner and a reduced administration burden on regional teams. Please note that the NHSBSA are supporting with the administration around the contract, the NHS England East of England regional team will remain responsible for any contractual decisions.  

NHS England and NHS Improvement will be meeting weekly with the NHSBSA to track progress with all applications and will be in contact with contractors to seek your feedback as the POC progresses.  

Unless you have been notified directly by a member of the NHS England and NHS Improvement Optometry Team your contract request will be handed over to the NHSBSA, and they will be in contact with you in due course.

Kind regards

Primary Care Optometry Team 

This message has been sent to all Optometrists & Stakeholders in the East of England

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