S+W SPoA goes live, GOS1 Tax Credits, Wait Times, OCT Crib Sheet, LOCSU News

1 May 2025

We have 7 items for you today:

1. New Single Point of Access Goes Live for Referrals in South and West Herts
   
   Further to our previous newsletters, EyeV has now taken over as the access point for all routine and urgent referrals in South and West Herts. An update from the ICB is below, including instructions on how to sign up if you have not already done so.

   The “onboarding FAQ” they provide in their letter requires you to be registered first as you need to log in to view it. We have requested a version without the log in requirement.

   Any queries can be emailed to us at admin@hertslog.org.uk and we will forward them to the ICB or EyeV as appropriate. 

2. Tax Credits no longer an option on GOS Forms
   PCSE have advised: 
   “The tax credits option for patient eligibility for GOS claims will be removed from 6 April 2025.

   Recent regulatory changes by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) mean that tax credits are ending on 5 April 2025. For more information on the removal of tax credits, click here.“

   Their full update can be found HERE.

3. A Successful CPD and AGM Event
   
   Thank you to everyone who attended our AGM and CPD event this week, the feedback we have had so far was that it was a successful evening with thanks to Newmedica for their support. Congratulations to Kush Mandavia, our newly elected committee member and, to the other committee members who were re-elected to their role. Many thanks to all the committee membership applicants, there was a very high standard of applications and we are very grateful for their interest in joining the LOC.
4. OCT Images Crib Sheet
   Essex LOC have a very useful PDF with examples of common OCT anomalies:  https://essex-loc.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/OCT-examples.pdf, which may be useful to print and save in the consulting rooms. With thanks to them for permission to share.
5. Waiting times for Cataracts at Trusts
   Please find below the current waiting times, as supplied by the local ICB, with thanks:

   Organisation:	Average number of weeks from referral received to date of 1st appointment	Average number of weeks wait for cataract surgery after listing LA	Average number of weeks wait for cataract surgery after listing GA
   East and North Hertfordshire Trust (Lister)	7	25	26
   West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals Trust (Watford)	1	8	8
   Princess Alexandra Hospital Trust  (Harlow)	11	Not able to provide at present	Not able to provide at present

    

   We hope the information is of help to you but should you have any questions, please email us at admin@hertsloc.org.uk and we will forward them accordingly.
6. OFNC statement: GOS voucher values in England to be frozen for 2025/26
   
   LOCSU Advise:
   Each year the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) independently sets optical voucher values, dental charges and prescription charges for the coming year. DHSC has confirmed that Ministers have decided to freeze all NHS optical voucher values for 2025/26.

   OFNC Chair Paul Carroll said: “This is a further squeeze on primary eye care, this time on patients. Contractors will continue to do all they can to support patients but it is a false economy which will impact most on children and vulnerable adults and lead over time to more NHS repairs and replacements.”

7. Optometrists ‘can help with long waits for hospital care’
   FODO advise: “The eye care sector has responded to the Healthwatch England report, ‘A Strain on Sight: Waiting for NHS Specialist Eye Care’ by calling for urgent reforms to reduce waiting times and improve patient experiences.” Their article can be found HERE.
    

Kind regards

Herts LOC