News

Secondary Care Providers’ Cataract Service Update
July 2020
Here is the latest information from secondary care providers on the status of their cataract services.
 
Tetbury Hospital: accepting routine cataract surgery referrals. Elective cataract surgery expected to restart on 23/07/2020.
 
Newmedica Gloucester: accepting routine cataract surgery referrals. Already performing elective cataract surgery.
 
Emersons Green: accepting routine cataract surgery referrals. Elective cataract surgery expected to restart by late July / early August.
 
Gloucestershire NHSFT: only performing urgent / essential cataract surgeries. 
Can You Help Your LOC?
July 2020

These past few months have been and continue to be challenging for us all but in extraordinary circumstances we have seen a willingness in our optical community to communicate and co-operate in new and worthwhile ways for the benefit of each other and our patients . As an LOC we are always looking for new members to bring new ideas and momentum to our work. If you’ve enjoyed and valued the interactions in our WhatsApp groups perhaps you might consider helping the LOC in its activities, either as a co-opted member for specific projects or by joining the committee fully. All contractors and performers are welcome but recent retirements from the committee have left a particular need for representation for dispensing optician colleagues (who must be contractors to join the committee). If you would like to know more please contact us here in the first instance. We look forward to hearing from you.

June 12th Gloucestershire CUES Service Launched
June 2020

The Gloucestershire CUES service launched on June 12th. See our dedicated CUES page here

The Primary Eyecare Services website is maintaining an up to date list of practices that are open and providing CUES here 

June 7th Glos NHSFT Eye Triage Hours Changed
June 2020

The hours for the Eye Casualty Triage Line have been changed.

Now available 8am – 6pm (closed 1pm-2pm) Monday-Saturday

Tel: 0300 422 3578

Outside of these hours contact CGH Switchboard 0300 422 2222 and ask for on-call Ophthalmologist.

Annual General Meeting 7pm 4th June
May 2020

This year’s AGM will be a virtual meeting starting at 7pm on Thursday June 4th. Invite links to join the meeting have been sent by email. The 2019-20 accounts are available here and the Chair’s Report for 2019-20 is available here

COVID-19 April 18th Update
April 2020

The Updated OFNC Statement and Guidance on changes to primary eye care in England, is available here

COVID-19 April 2nd Update
April 2020

The OFNC guidance on changes to primary eye care in England, can be downloaded here.

COVID-19 April 1st Update
April 2020

The Optical Fees Negotiating Committee (OFNC) statement concerning NHSE COVID-19 Guidance for optical practices in England, is available as a download here.

The full NHSE Guidance letter is available here

COVID-19 March 30th Update
March 2020

A WhatsApp group has been set up for the support of colleagues who are actively carrying out phone/video call triage and emergency/essential care of our patients during the Covid-19 crisis. It is open to optometrists/contact lens opticians/dispensing opticians/practice managers etc. This will allow for quick opinions/advice from colleagues and effective signposting for any colleagues that may not be in a position to carry out the required care for a patient their specific situation requires.

If you wish to join, please e-mail ankur.trivedi@primaryeyecare.co.uk with the mobile number you use for WhatsApp and you will be added.

COVID-19 March 24th Update
March 2020

You will be aware of the immediate closure of all shops and the government advice to stay at home. Whilst these restrictions are in place, there will still be small numbers of patients requiring urgent care.

Please let us know immediately if you plan to maintain provision of urgent care so patients can be signposted to their closest optical practice.

Please reply to  ankur.trivedi@primaryeyecare.co.uk

Also;

If you are closing then you need to log the closure with  covid@primaryeyecare.co.uk.

Please see the info at HTTP://primaryeyecare.co.uk/covid-19-guidance.html