News

The latest news from North Yorkshire Local Optometric Committee.  

Two lectures/meetings were held on wednesday 19th December at YDH post graduate centre to outline the new LES/Triage scheme proposals - if you missed these you should speak to Lisa Barker for more details - you should also speak to Lisa if you wish to join the scheme(see LES page).

CET Day

The Next North Yorkshire LOC CET day will be held at the National Railway Museum, York on wednesday 28th March 2012. Peer review/discussion sessions(GOC compliant) will be tested at this event.

A draft programme has been added to the website along with a new application to download. No confirmation will be sent - if you wish to make sure you have a place - phone Anne Coutts on 01904 601515. Please do not book if you do not intend to come !

For more details please see the CPD page

LOC AGM

The 2011 LOC AGM was held at Sovereign House, Clifton Moor, York on April 14th at 6.15 pm, Dr David Geddes (medical director for the PCT) spoke on changes in the NHS and the new cataract scheme.The AGM voted to retain the statutory levy at 1.0% (0.5% goes to LOCSU and 0.5% to local optometry). Anne Coutts remains your first point of contact on 01904 601515 for NYYPCT. A new tab (see LHS) has been added with the secretary's annual report and other information. The next LOC meeting will be the AGM on weds 18th April at 6.30 for 7.00 pm  2012 at Sovereign house,Clifton Moor.

LES scheme

If you wishto join this scheme more details can be found on the LES tab(on the left hand side). Alternatively contact Lisa Barker at NHSNYY on Lisa.barker@nyypct.nhs.uk. Lisa can also be contacted directly on 01423 876429 and 07540675235. Jan Van der hoek , consultant ophthalmologist at Scarborough hospital is clinical lead for LES training. The LOC funded three courses on February 26th at Scarborough hospital(post grad centre) and two more at York district hospital on March 12th and April 16th 2011.The days were a mixture of lectures and workshops and targeted key clinical skills such as Goldmann tonometry and Volk lens examination.Visit the new LES tab on the LHS for more details.This contains sample referral,outcome and claim forms for you to view and use.

Proposed LES expansion - York pilot

All GP & non-LES accredited optometric referrals will be:

Triaged by LES accredited optometists and then if required seen under the LES scheme. A fee will be paid for triage of £6.00( the LES fees remain as now).The purpose would be to:

  • improve equity & consistency of referral due to to improved threshold
  • improve access to services for patients closer to home
  • choice of provider
  • reduce activity of referral to secondary care
  • accreditation details can be found on the LES page
A flow diagram for the new scheme is shown on the LES page/tab

This will be piloted initially in the York-Selby area.

New cataract scheme.

A new county wide cataract referral scheme started on january 17th 2011. Please view the documents on the cataract 'tab' on the LHS for information,guidance,a new patient cataract-choice information leaflet and a sample referral form. The fee is £12 - this was not negotiated by the LOC.The LOC have written to the medical director(David Geddes) of the PCT and the LMC to state our views on this matter. A copy of this letter can be found on the cataract page/tab on the LHS and Dr Geddes reply can also be found on the Secretaries page/tab.

PEER review group

There are no further peer review group meetings planned at the moment - if you wish to set up your own group please contact Kim Read for advice on kimjread@virginmedia.com  The GOC have decided that a condition of revalidation will require peer review activity in each CET cycle.Peer review/discussion groups will be tested at the March 28 2012 CET day -Please let the LOC know what you think - should this be a regular feature of North Yorkshire CET ?