CPDs On Myopia And Topography, PPV, FODO And LOCSU News

23 March 2023

We have 4 items for you today:

1. CPD webinars on Myopia- “When will my child’s eye stop growing?” and Topography in Corneal Conditions and Cataract Surgery
   Herts LOC are running a CPD evening via Zoom on Tuesday 21^st March for Optometrists and Dispensing Opticians, starting at 7pm and finishing at 9pm. Points have been applied for which, subject to approval, will be one interactive point per session.

   The speakers are:

   • Miss Francesca Harman MBChB, FRCOphth, Consultant Ophthalmologist at Hillingdon and Mount Vernon NHS Trust specialising in high-volume cataract surgery and medical cornea. She will be talking on topography, giving an overview of the importance of this technique and relating it to both corneal conditions as well as cataract surgery in more complicated cases. 
   • Dr Annegret Dahlmann-Noor PhD FRCOphth FRCS(Ed) DipMedEd, Honorary Clinical Associate Professor, Consultant in paediatric ophthalmology and strabismus and Divisional Director, Moorfields. The title of the talk is “When will my child’s eye stop growing?”. The session will cover an overview of epidemiology, complications, current and new management options to slow the progression of Myopia in children together with a section on rarer conditions of children who are born highly myopic and the associated syndromes.

   To register to attend this CPD event, please complete the following form:

   https://forms.office.com/r/0Ac4YvV6G7 

   Please note that places are limited so will be on a first come, first served basis. You will receive a Zoom invite before the event if you are successful in reserving a place. If you subsequently are unable to attend, you must email admin@HertsLOC.org uk which is also the address for any queries you may have. We look forward to seeing you there.

2. OFNC Statement: THE NHS-BSA Post Payment Verification Guidance
   NHS England and NHSBSA have published new Post Payment Verification (PPV) guidance for GOS, HERE. OFNC have issued a statement, HERE, they advise :
   “We know that in the past, PPV processes have not always been well implemented and at points based upon flawed logic. This has increased costs for practices, delivering no benefit for the NHS and have also in some instances reduced patient access. However, NHSBSA said it hopes this new guidance will provide “improved value for money and quality”.

   One challenge for all contractors, who are busy meeting patient needs, is the cost and time associated with PPV. Therefore, we advise all providers and clinicians to ensure record cards clearly show why an early retest was necessary, and where there has been a dispensing supplement claimed such as a prism or a tint has been claimed, that the clinical reason for prescribing is clearly defined and easy to find on the record.”

3. LOCSU News
   Is HERE, including LOCSU Seeks New Board Members, Open Letter Sent to NHS Over Commissioning of Special Needs Eye Care Service and a CPD webinar, “Assessing The Red Eye in Optometric Practice” on Tuesday 7 March 2023 at 6.30pm 
4. FODO News
   Is HERE, including their name change, College seeks IP-qualified optometrist to join CMG review group and The Macular Society is calling on parliament to abolish VAT on audiobooks. Their update from 24th February is HERE, including Clinical Council raises concerns about the Special School Eye Care Service, Healthwatch England warns of GP ‘referrals black hole’ and RNIB aims to use data and analytics capabilities to provide better services and support to blind and visually impaired people.

Kind regards

Herts LOC