Professionals - Devon LOC

The Accessible Information Standard tells organisations how they should make sure that disabled people have access to information they can understand and the communication support they may need.

Accessible Information Standards were published by the Government in July 2015. The Health and Social Care Act 2012 requires all providers of NHS or publicly-funded adult social care to comply with these standards by 31 July 2016.

The Accessible Information Standard

Applying for an NHS email address

Please follow the link NHS email request as this will show you the steps of how to apply for an email.

If you haven’t done so already you will also need to complete the Data Security and Protection Toolkit: https://www.dsptoolkit.nhs.uk/

Further assistance can be found at: Email: helpdesk@nhs.net or Telephone: 0333 200 1133

Formulary treatment for dry eyes

NEW Devon Clinical Commissioning Group have recently produced some formulary treatment guidance on dry eyes – see this information here: formulary treatment of dry eye

Information on ophthalmic preparations: here

If you have any queries please email the CCG on: d-ccg.medicinesoptimisation@nhs.net

Meibomian cyst policy

A supporting CRG has been developed by the planned care clinical leads to support understanding of the policy and referral, please see attachments for further information.

Meibomian-cysts-policy-7-April-2018

Meibomian-Cysts-Referral-Guidance

Over the counter medication

NHS England guidance to reduce prescribing of ‘over the counter’ medicines for minor health conditions

In March, NHSE launched their guidance to reduce prescribing of ‘over the counter’ (OTC) medicines for minor health conditions [i ] and the Clinical Commissioning Groups in Devon have made a decision to implement the guidance in full.

The guidance advises that OTC medication should not be routinely prescribed in primary care for 35 minor, or self-limiting conditions. The conditions have been included for one of the following reasons:

It is self-limiting and does not require medical advice or treatment as it will clear up on its own
It is a minor illness and is suitable for self-care and treatment with items that can easily be purchased over the counter from a pharmacy

Vitamins, minerals and probiotics are also included as there is a lack of robust evidence to show clinical effectiveness

There are exceptions to the guidance including:

Where treatment is for a long-term condition
The OTC medicine is being used to treat a side effect of a prescription medicine or symptom of another illness
The OTC medicine has a licence which doesn’t allow the product to be sold over the counter to certain groups of patients
The person prescribing thinks that a patient cannot treat themselves, for example because of mental health problems or severe social vulnerability.

The conditions include dry eyes, hay fever and conjunctivitis as well as vitamins and minerals and we would ask for your support in implementing the guidance so that patients receive consistent messages.

Further details, including patient information leaflets, are available on the CCG websites: One Devon

OTHER ADVICE

Hydroxychloroquine and Chloroquine

NHS England contact details

NHS England South West Region, South West House, Blackbrook Park Avenue, Taunton, Somerset TA1 2PX

Generic email account: england.optometrysouthwest@nhs.net

Web Site: https://www.england.nhs.uk/south/info-professional/eye-health/south-west-eye-health-informati on/

Primary Care Support England – Important information

The national engagement team has now been replaced with the communications and engagement team which is service line specific. Therefore if you have raised a query and have a PCSE case number which you feel is still not being resolved please submit via their website https://pcse.england.nhs.uk/contact-us/

LOC Levy remittance advice is issued by NHS Shared Business Services (SBS). Please contact them on 0303 123 1177 or visit https://www.sbs.nhs.uk/

This is the link ophthalmic section on our website where you will find useful fact and frequently asked questions.

pcse.optomengagement@nhs.net – to escalate queries which have not been resolved in the given time frame

exeter.helpdesk@nhs.net – For ODS / TP code

pcse.portalenquiries@nhs.net – If you need to change the main contact on PCSE Online

www.pcse.england.nhs.uk – the website where you can log onto PCSE Online to order supplies

www.pcse.england.nhs.uk/contact-us – For queries relating to a particular service

www.pcse.england.nhs.uk/services/ophthalmic-payments/ – for payment queries

Association of British Dispensing Opticians – The Association of British Dispensing Opticians (ABDO) is the professional body for dispensing opticians – working for dispensing opticians and advancing the profession in the UK and worldwide.

Association of Independent Optometrists – Their view was that optometrists (or ophthalmic opticians as we were then known) should practice professionally and ethically, and that the best way of achieving this was in independent “rooms practice” with no window display or the like.

Association of Optometrists – Representative membership organisation for optometrists in the UK. Who support over 82% of practising optometrists to fulfil their professional roles to protect the nation’s eye health.

College of Optometrists – The College is the professional body for optometrists. It qualifies the profession and delivers the guidance, development and training to ensure optometrists provide the best possible care. We recognise excellence through the College’s affixes, by building the evidence base for optometry, and by raising awareness of the profession with the public, commissioners, and health care professionals.

Devon County Council Public Health – This website contains information on Devon’s Health and Wellbeing Board, Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy, Annual Public Health Reports, Joint Strategic Needs Assessments and a library of strategies, plans, needs assessments and other reports and information relevant to health and wellbeing in Devon.

Devon Local Medical Committee – Devon LMC a one-stop shop for GPs and practice managers to access information about general practice, including guidance, news, pastoral support, events and training.

Devon Local Pharmaceutical Committee – Representative committee for all community pharmacy contractors in the County of Devon. Working with pharmacists, the NHS and Public Health to improve patient care.

Eyecare FAQ ABDO – The information on these pages will help you learn more about looking after your eyes. Regular eye tests are important to pick up eye problems in the early stages, before they cause permanent damage. The information here doesn’t replace advice from a professional so seek help if you have health concerns.

Federation of (Ophthalmic and Dispensing) Opticians (FODO) – An association for eye care providers and support, who champion and shape the future of eye care in the UK. FODO is the leading national association for eye care providers working in primary and community care settings. Each year their members provide over 18 million eye examinations and offer a wide range of other eye care services across the UK.

Formulary Treatment for Dry Eyes – NEW Devon CCG Guidance – NEW Devon Clinical Commissioning Group have recently produced some formulary treatment guidance on dry eyes.

Healthwatch Devon –Healthwatch Devon is the independent champion for people using local health and social care services. Listening to what people like about services and what could be improved. They share their views with those with the power to make change happen.

Healthwatch England – An independent national champion for people who use health and social care services. There to make sure that those running services, and the government, put people at the heart of care.

Healthwatch Plymouth – Healthwatch Plymouth helps people get the best out of their local health and social care services. We actively gather feedback from all sections of the community about positive and negative experiences of using health and social care services in Plymouth.

Healthwatch Torbay – At a local level, local Healthwatch works to help people get the best out of the health and social care services in their area; whether it’s improving them today or helping to shape them for tomorrow. Local Healthwatch is all about local voices being able to influence the delivery and design of their services – not just people for who use them, but for anyone who might need them in the future.

LOCSU – Support Local Optical Committees (LOCs) across England in developing local eye health services. To help community optometrists and opticians work with local commissioners to make community eye services accessible for patients and cost effective for the NHS.

NHS England – NHS England leads the National Health Service (NHS) in England. We set the priorities and direction of the NHS and encourage and inform the national debate to improve health and care

NHS England Opticians – In September 2015, PCSE took on responsibility for the delivery of NHS England’s primary care support services. SUPPLIES *** OPHTHALMIC PAYMENTS *** PERFORMERS LISTS.

Optical Suppliers Association (OSA) – The Federation of (Ophthalmic and Dispensing) Opticians is a leading professional membership and insurance organisation that represents primary care eye health providers in the UK and Ireland and offers bespoke and targeted advice to our diverse business and individual membership.

Plymouth City Council Public Health – Since April 2013 all councils have taken on new responsibilities for Public Health. We will put health and wellbeing at the heart of everything we do and help people in Plymouth to live healthier and happier lives.

Plymouth University – Optometry – Do you want to pursue a career as an eye care professional? You will benefit from a pioneering, clinical degree set up to bring optometry to the South West, built in consultation with expert professionals in the field. You will be trained in both the classroom, laboratory and, from the very first semester, the workplace – be that practices, hospitals or in the community – gaining key knowledge, skills, experience and confidence that you need to succeed as the future of the eye care profession.

PCSE (Primary Care Support England) – We support front line primary care provision in England by providing key services to GPs, Optometrists, Dentist and Pharmacists. We deliver transformed solutions, using digital innovation and service improvement to improve provider and patient experiences.

Quality in Optometry – Their website hosts clinical governance toolkits for optical professionals which have been developed jointly by ABDO, AOP, the College, FODO and LOCSU

Royal College of Ophthalmologists – The Royal College of Ophthalmologists champions excellence in the practice of ophthalmology. We are the only professional membership body for medically qualified ophthalmologists and for those who are undergoing specialist training to become ophthalmologists.

Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) – The Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB), is the UK’s leading charity supporting blind and partially sighted people. They offer practical and emotional support to those that need them.

See Ability – SeeAbility provides extraordinary support and champions better eye care for people with learning disabilities and autism, many of whom have sight loss.

The Association of Contact Lens Manufacturers (ACLM) – The ACLM was established in 1962 to publicise the work of UK manufacturers, to develop new products and to raise standards. Since then the scale and diversity of contact lens manufacturing has grown exponentially, the marketplace has become international, and the commercial pressures have become increasingly diverse.

The KingsFund – Ideas that change health care

Living Options Devon Sight and Hearing Team – The See Hear Centre, based in Barnstaple, provides assistive equipment demonstrations, a ‘try before you buy’ loans scheme and an information and advice support service for people with sight and / or hearing loss.

The Worshipful Company of Spectacle Makers – The Company is thriving and active in optics, in the City and in communities where, every day, the Spectacle Makers’ craft is in evidence, helping people to improve the health of their eyes and to see better

Torbay Council Public Health – Public Health is the art and science of promoting and protecting health and well-being, preventing ill-health and prolonging life through organised efforts of society.

Job Opportunities

Locum available – Experienced South Devon based Contact Lens Optician (with additional qualification to deliver Minor Eye Conditions services both within NHS and private pathways) has regular locum days available on Thursdays Fridays and Saturdays. – Please contact Kelly kelly.dennis4@nhs.net

South Molton Eyecare –

We are a small Independent Practice in South Molton in North Devon. Due to expansion we are looking for an Optometrist to do either regular locum days or to be employed for one or two days a week. Forty five minute clinics working with a Dispensing Optician and/or a very experienced Level 4 ABDO Dispensing Assistant.

If interested please contact Rachel Beck for more information on 07711313704 or rachelbeck100@yahoo.com

Closing date: End of November 2023

Newsome Opticians – Optometrist required for full time position based in the South Hams would suite someone with 5+ years experience.

Modern practice with full Dispensing Optician support with Contact lens opticians delivering contact lens service. MECS, Glaucoma follow up, diabetic screening etc all undertaken.

Please contact Daryl Newsome via email at darylnewsome@me.com or 07454022804 for further information.

Closing date End November 2023.

University of Plymouth

Get involved with undergraduate teaching within the Optometry department at University of Plymouth. We are looking for clinical demonstrators to support Year 1 and Year 2 clinical skills sessions. These sessions involve teaching refraction techniques, contact lens fitting and ophthalmic investigations.

This is a great opportunity to explore teaching and can be a rewarding experience!

Teaching is timetabled Tuesdays 9 -1 and Thursdays 9 – 6 term time only. Hourly rate £19.62

For more information or to apply please contact Mahesh Joshi optometryprogramme@plymouth.ac.uk

Closing date for applications is: Monday 20^th November 2023

Positions Wanted

None at the moment