Buckinghamshire Local Optical Committee
Representing all GOS contractors and performers in Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes
CHAIR SECRETARY
Bucks LOC AGM 17th April 2018
Report from the Chair
Finance
See the Treasurer’s report.
Post Payment Verification (PPV)
There has been a drop in the number of queries we are fielding about PPV visits.
ICS (Integrated Care System) – was briefly ACS (Accountable Care System)
In 2016, NHS organisations and local councils came together to form 44 sustainability and transformation partnerships (STPs) covering the whole of England and set out their proposals to improve health and care for patients.
In Buckinghamshire, theBOB (Bucks, Berks, Oxon) STP is evolving to form an accountable care system (ACS), a new type of even closer collaboration. In an ACS, NHS organisations, in partnership with local councils, hospital trusts and others, take collective responsibility for managing resources, delivering NHS standards, and improving the health of the population they serve.
Local services can provide better and more joined-up care for patients when different organisations work together in this way. For staff, improved collaboration can help to make it easier to work with colleagues from other organisations. And systems can better understand data about local people’s health, allowing them to provide care that is tailored to individual needs.
By working alongside councils and, drawing on the expertise of others such as local charities and community groups, the NHS can help people to live healthier lives for longer, and to stay out of hospital when they do not need to be there.
In return, ACS leaders gain greater freedoms to manage the operational and financial performance of services in their area. They will draw on the experience of the 50 ‘vanguard’ sites, which have led the development of new care models across the country.
GP Commissioning
We now have some dialogue with the CCGs, though it is limited. We continue to press them. The two Buckinghamshire CCGs (Chiltern and Aylesbury Vale) have now joined forces and become Buckinghamshire CCG. ICS may well help with this.
As previously, we have the great benefit of LOCSU’s pathways and training for:
Glaucoma/OHT
MECs (Minor Eye Conditionsservice)
Pre and Post-op Cataract
Children
Low Vision
People with Learning Disabilities
and LOCSU’s expertise on many matters.
When we last asked for responses to a survey about which of these schemes would be most popular with practitioners and practices, in order of popularity these were: cataract post-op; glaucoma & OHT; children; MECs/PEARS; low vision; learning disabilities. We will survey everyone for whom we have an email address again in due course, so that we maintain a good idea of what practitioners and practices are interested in.
Glaucoma/OHT
The Goldmann IOP referral refinement scheme in Buckinghamshire has remained static with more than half the practices accredited, though activity has been lower than expected.Payments to practice issues have been resolved. We are having some dialogue with the CCGs and the scheme is still running for the 10 practices that have been active. Part of the help getting a dialogue up and running with the CCGs is input from the Bucks hospitals via Miss Anna Mead (Ophthalmologist) who is now part of our Mid & South Bucks sub-committee.
In Milton Keynes we are not currently involved in IOP referral refinement, though we are still keeping the effort up on this. The Glaucoma consultant at Milton Keynes (Mr Areeb Mousavi) is keen to involve community optoms. However, as in Buckinghamshire, we have had real issues maintaining a dialogue with the CCG.
Direct cataract referral
This is working well across the patch.
Referrals
Please remember not to use rubber stamps for practice and practitioner details on referral letters – these tend to disappear once scanned or copied and then it is difficult for the clinic to send you a report. Please make sure the name of the referring optom and practice details are either written clearly in black capitals or are computer printed in black in a decent font size. Please also always state a provisional diagnosis near the top of the letter/form – even if you’re wrong it helps the triager by knowing what’s on your mind.
Bruce Gilson
February 2018