What’s New
West Sussex AGM
The AGM was held on Tuesday 15th May. You can still read the Chair and Treasurer’s reports below. Lynn Stacey was voted in as Chair for the forthcoming year and Mark Glover was voted in as Treasurer. The next meeting of the Committee will be on 12th June starting at 7.00pm. If you would like to raise any issues with WSLOC, please let the Administrator (Jackie Oxley) know - office.westsussexloc@gmail.com
NHS.net email addresses
The PCT is trying to action this please help them. We are trying to get a list of the main address for each of the GP practices in West Sussex so that referrals are received and dealt with immediately.
West Sussex PCT are inviting all practices/optometrists to sign up for a nhs.net e-mail address as an aid to improving the speed of referrals, please respond positively as this will be one of the steps towards shared care enhanced services.
Applanation tonometry training evenings
The Applanation tonometry evenings have been well attended and well received, giving confidence and reassurance to many of the attendees.
West Sussex LOC can arrange further Goldmann and Perkins tonometry training sessions if required. Please let the Administrator, Jackie Oxley, know if you would like to attend one of these sessions - jackie.oxley@googlemail.com
NHS Choices
The NHS Choices system is being enhanced from September 2011 to include more information about practices, self-editable practice profiles and a new feedback and response facility system for patients. This change is to bring optical contractors into line with the NHS Choices systems that have already been rolled out for NHS hospitals, GPs, dentists and pharmacists Guidance on NHS Choices prepared by the Optical Confederation will help you.
Glaucoma Scheme
For your Glaucoma Referral Refinement contract you need to have completed QIO levels 1 & 2, if you haven’t already made a start on this then please register at: http://www.qualityinoptometry.co.uk/
By now all members should have received the Glaucoma Referral Refinement contract, please read carefully and join in. You have a paper copy of the claim form in the pack which you can photocopy but GRR Claim form is a pdf version.
Cataract pathway
West Sussex LOC are advising members to follow the orignal Cataract pathway guidlines on referral and ignore the new imposed limits. It is your responsibility to refer pathology in discussion with your patient, if the hospital/PCT/GP wants to restrict access to treatment they will need to carry that through. The only way an optometrist should deviate from the original pathway guidelines is if there is a subsequent (funded) enhanced scheme agreed to allow the anticipated counselling that will be involved.