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Help and Support available for ALL Optical Practice Staff

21 December 2021

A regional hub has been launched to support health and care staff across the North East and North Cumbria to cope with the immense pressures of working during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The purpose of this ‘hub’ is to help health and care staff – including NHS, social care, and care home staff – get support for their mental and physical wellbeing when they need it. The aim is to ensure that every individual can easily, quickly and confidentially access the best advice, support and, if needed, treatment for their needs.

The hub’s flagship offer is a confidential advice and support helpline staffed by highly skilled NHS psychological practitioners from Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust, a leading provider of mental health services in the region.

Health and care staff can call the helpline on 0191 223 2030, seven days a week (including Bank Holidays) from 7am-9pm. Therapists are available between 12-6pm Monday to Friday; if you call outside these hours and need to speak to a therapist, helpline staff will arrange for a therapist to call you back at the soonest suitable time.

https://www.northeastandnorthcumbriaics.nhs.uk/staff-wellbeing-hub/

Northumberland, Tyne and Wear LOC Latest News

Pre-Cataract Pathway and Referrals for people registered with North of Tyne GP’s.

Primary Eyecare Services (PES) and Northumberland Tyne and Wear LOC have been working together to streamline the cataract referral process for patients. PES has been in contact with all the local Independent Sector Providers (ISPs) of cataract surgery to discuss the option of developing a pre-cataract pathway for their patients which will run alongside the …

11 April 2024

CPD – Drops and drugs in Cataract surgery’

Thursday 18th April 2024 6:00pm – 8:30pm Spa medica – North Tyneside 2 INTERACTIVE CPD POINTS ARE AVAILABLE featuring a presentation by: Dr Alexander Silvester (Chief Medical Officer) There will be a tour of the hospital and refreshments are to be provided. SpaMedica is registered with the GOC as a CPD provider and delegates receive …

10 April 2024

CPD – Ophthalmic Emergencies in the Community

Tuesday 23rd April 2024,  6:30pm – 8:30pm Mr Usman Mahmood will be presenting – Ophthalmic Emergencies in the Community – 3 CPD Points Available Registration open to both Optometrists and Dispensing Opticians Event to be held at: Optegra Eye Clinic Newcastle, Units 1-3 Maingate, Kingsway North, Team Valley Trading Estate. Gateshead NE11 0BE  Places will …

31 March 2024

Now LIVE! NuTH GRR, GERS and Glaucoma Monitoring Service

We would like to inform you that Primary Eye Care Services, in collaboration with the ICB and NuTH will launch the following Community Optometry services for patients registered with GP’s in Northumberland, North Tyneside and Newcastle Gateshead. The Services Glaucoma Repeat Readings (GRR) This is an established service which works by repeating pressure checks with …

9 March 2024

Now LIVE! Direct referral for cataract surgery service for Newcastle Eye Centre plus Post-op data collection service.

Find the details and register to participate see your emails. If you have any issues with OPERA please contact hello@referral.support. Any pathway queries should be directed to angela.henderson@primaryeyecare.co.uk and Naomi.smith@primaryeyecare.co.uk

8 March 2024

Eye Care Electronic Referral System (EeRS) Rolls out North of Tyne

Contractors check your emails NTW and Durham LOC have concerns that currently have not been addressed however NuTH are very keen to proceed. The LOC would welcome thoughts and feedback from members to help us shape our ongoing conversations. Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals Foundation Trust (NUTH) Ophthalmology Services is adopting a new Eye Care Electronic …

27 February 2024

Use NHS Service Finder to obtain GP practice NHS emails

Instructions have been sent to Contractors to help Performers (optometrists) send referrals and communications to GP via NHS mail. Sent Feb 2024. Please remember these should be sent from practice SHARED MAIL BOXES were possible (rather than personal NHS mail addresses) or EGRESS for those who do not have access to NHS mail accounts.

22 February 2024

HES vouchers issued by NuTH (Newcastle)

Please note that all HES vouchers should be sent to the address below for payment. Failure to do so may result in delayed payment.  Finance Department Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust Regent Point Regent Farm Road Gosforth Newcastle Upon Tyne NE3 3HD The LOC have talked to NuTH to try to establish a system …

3 January 2024

Orthoptists Discharge process from NuTH – Dec 2023

Please be aware that Orthoptists may be discharging stable patients who no longer require ongoing management in the hospital, and who may wish or need to continue with long-term Fresnel prism rather than incorporation. The patient should present with a Discharge letter.  Patients will be advised that Fresnel prisms can be supplied by a primary care …

22 December 2023

Referral Guidelines for Local Ophthalmology

Keep checking back as these are updated as the local HES pass us their info. Durham and Darlington Update Dec 2023 is now available   Referral Pathways

22 December 2023

LOCSU Latest news

OFNC – Derisory GOS Fee Imposed by DHSC

Government has today announced that it has decided to impose another real-terms cut to the NHS sight test fee.

26 March 2024

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