Staffordshire LOC COVID-19 Update 1st April 2020 at Staffordshire Local Optical Committee

Staffordshire LOC COVID-19 Update 1st April 2020

Dear Colleagues,
 
I do hope you are all well. I share your frustrations with the delayed responses and lack of clarity from national bodies as well as professional organisations. The unprecedented experience of living through a pandemic is hard enough without the uncertainty within our profession.
 
  • However, we finally do have the NHS England guidance for Optical practices, please click here. It is an initial response after pressure from all sides so I would be patient as we get more clarifications in the coming days.
 
  • There is also clarification around personal protective equipment (PPE) requirement for all clinicians examining/ treating patients behind slit lamp, please click here.
 
  • In a bid to try and speed things up, we are in talks with LOCSU to see if we can arrange a bulk delivery of PPE to the LOC directly, after which we can arrange distribution to Staffordshire practices. So watch this space!
 
  • LOC is in process of updating our website for easy access to COVID-19 updates.
 
  • We thank you all for your ongoing support and drive to maintain these essential/ urgent eye care services - whether sight testing, repair or replacement of spectacles or contact lenses, or via commissioned extended primary eyecare services.  
 
  •  LOC is in talks with commissioners to enable wider MECS access across all regions in Staffordshire so we are ready to receive more referrals from HES/ other community sources.  Separate guidance from PES is imminent, so stay tuned.
 
  • Finally, I do feel this an important moment for the Optical sector. Therefore, vital that we stand strong as a network of eye care professionals to help our community in their hour of need and demonstrate our true worth in the primary care health care setting. 
 
 
  • To help support this, please find enclosed the latest update links below for your information. Please read and share with your staff. If you have any further queries, do not hesitate to contact the LOC:
 
ADMIN/ SERVICE DELIVERY QUERIES
Secretary: Alison Lowell - admin@staffsloc.co.uk
 
CLINICAL/ SERVICE DELIVERY QUERIES
Community Services Lead (North) - sih.razvi@yahoo.co.uk
Community Services Lead (South) - markmccracken@live.com
 
 
We will update you further as soon as there is significant development. Meanwhile, please do ensure you are following current COVID-19 Infection control measures. Take care and be safe!
 
Kind Regards,
 
Irfan Razvi
 
Chairman
Staffordshire Local Optical Committee
----------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 
1. NHS England guidance 1st April 2020: Click here

2. Royal College of Ophthalmologists PPE guidance: (see above)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Privacy Policy