Coronavirus Updates
Some key documents are available to download at the bottom of the page.
There are links to information from a variety of the professional bodies.
Some of the referral paths have been updated – please see the relevant referral pathways tab above.
1/6/22 – Withdrawal of UKHSA infection prevention and control measures in England
31/3/22 – Living with COVID19 testing update
30/3/22 – Government to continue free COVID-19 testing for optics
2/10/21 – NHS influenza vaccination letter
13/7/21 – Joint statement guidance for primary eye care services in England
24/2/21 – https://communityeyecare.scot.nhs.uk/guideline-links/ – This may be a helpful aid for your decision making processes. Please note this is a guidance only and is from Scotland. As professionals you still have to make your own decisions whether to refer a patient and should always make those decisions in the patient’s best interest.
4/2/21 – COVID vaccination registration details
4/2/21 – C19_Vac_Registration_help
4/2/21 – Covid-19 vaccination guide for adults
25/1/21 – PDF of AOP_member_eligibility_for_the_COVID-19_vaccine_template
25/1/21 – AOP_member_eligibility_for_the_COVID-19_vaccine_template
20/1/21 – WEST Essex CCG Staff Privacy Notice for vaccines
20/1/21 – Vaccination information for Essex & Suffolk
15/1/21 – NHSE – Operational Guidance Vaccination of Frontline Health Workers
18/12/20 – OFNC Update – NHSE cancels planned GOS grant deductions
17/12/20 – Rollout of lateral flow testing
31/10/20 – OFNC FAQs for October 2020 NHSE
27/10/20 – OFNC statement October NHSE letter
26/10/20 – NHS COVID SOP Update
6/10/20 – OFNC COVID19 funding update
13/9/20 – OFNC statement on delays in COVID-19 funding
21/8/20 – NHS Mail and PPE Comms
20/8/20 – Media Q&A- antibody testing
20/8/20 – West Essex – Antibody testing for optometry staff
17/8/20 – PPE Portal for Optometry
13/7/20 – AOP Covid triage form
13/7/20 – AOP do i need to see them flow chart
9/7/20 – Details of antibody tests are available to Optoms and DOs in North Essex – Info leaflet NHS FAMILY STAFF v3 16th Jun 2020
6/7/20 – Details of antibody tests are available to Optoms and DOs in Mid/South Essex – MSE Covid phlebotomy info
24/6/20 – Business Continuity Checklist
24/6/20 – Test and Trace Essex CC
24/6/20 – Test and Trace Southend & Thurrock
17/6/20 – OFNC statement on return to work letter 17.06.20 final
17/6/20 – C0601_Reopening of optical services letter 17 June 2020 – NHS England letter regarding resumption of services
17/6/20 – fr NHS E I RWebb to Gateway Optical providers re Resumption of Optical services June 2020
17/6/20 – Guidance for primary care contractors on reducing risk of staff acquiring Covid-19 June 2020
17/6/20 – C0601_COVID19_OPTICAL_SOP v1 17 June 2020
17/6/20 – Risk Assessement for Resumption of GOS services for Opthalmic contractors
17/6/20 – C0542-IPC-Board-Assurance-Framework-v1-2
12/6/20 – OFNC statement on support
11/6/20 – AOP advice of cleaning and disinfecting
11/6/20 – NHSE letter about track and trace – Track and Trace. Nosocomial_infections_System_letter
8/6/20 – COVID-19-traffic-light-guidance-table – College traffic light guidance. Currently in red
5/6/20 – OFNC statement on resumption of work
29/5/20 – OFNC statement on dentistry – implications for optics
27/5/20 – OFNC statement on essential care – Update
13/5/20 – OFNC routine sight testing
12/5/20 – College / ABDO advice – continue urgent/essential eyecare only. Joint Statement CoO and ABDO
17/4/20 – Mid & South CCG’s information about COVID swabbing for symptomatic practitioners
10/4/20 – LOC COVID 19 Update
9/4/20 – NHSE Improvement & Engagement Webinar
1/4/20 – NHSE advice and response from OFNC.
LOC Advice
Next steps if you’re staying open or closing.
Covid 19 Questionnaire before seeing a patient face to face
Telemedicine-Guidance
A test College test chart for remote testing – visual-acuity-chart-for-remote-consultations-14-April-2020
Contact-lens-telephone-review-form-19-March-2020
Spectacle-lens-telephone-review-form-19-March-2020
LOC guidance on Protocols – Infection control, Hygiene and PPE
NHS Email application
Zeiss cleaning advice for Humfreys – https://www.zeiss.com/content/dam/med/ref_international/corona/pdfs/en_31_025_0409ihfa12434_covid
LOCSU Update:
6/5/20 – PPE ordering from LOCSU https://mailchi.mp/e0f4790e6859/covid19-urgent-eyecare-services-1547110?e=b6efdc77cb
27/3/20 – https://www.locsu.co.uk/covid-19-patient-care-at-growing-risk-as-nhs-england-ignores-optics/
25/3/20 – https://mailchi.mp/c1c07f055877/march-2019-locsu-news-1516825?e=b6efdc77cb
20/3/20 – https://mailchi.mp/600363d90341/march-2019-locsu-news-1515597?e=6c5d9f3519
AOP advice:
COVID19 – how to provide a sight test
PPE guidance
Guidance for employers on furlough
FAQs: https://www.aop.org.uk/advice-and-support/clinical/clinical-governance/novel-coronavirus-covid-19-advice/common-questions-about-coronavirus
ABDO advice:
https://www.abdo.org.uk/coronavirus
ABDO Essential Worker template – https://www.abdo.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Essential-Worker-Template-for-Employers.pdf
College of Optometrists advice:
https://www.college-optometrists.org/the-college/media-hub/news-listing/coronavirus-2019-advice-for-optometrists.html
The College have advised: “Where possible, avoid the use of air-puff tonometry, particularly if it means you need to get close to the patient, as this may also generate aerosols, which may be a source of infection. If you normally use air-puff tonometry you should consider whether you need to do tonometry at this time, for example if the patient has normal discs and visual fields.“
Advice from college on PPE – https://www.college-optometrists.org/the-college/media-hub/news-listing/ppe-personal-protective-equipment-covid-19.html
College recommendation to only offer ‘essential’ eye care.
gov.uk
Links to all gov.uk COVID19 advice
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/wuhan-novel-coronavirus-infection-prevention-and-control
Best_Practice_hand_wash
Best_Practice_hand_rub
T2_poster_Recommended_PPE_for_primary_care
NHSE:
https://www.england.nhs.uk/coronavirus/
Business support information:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-to-employers-and-businesses-about-covid-19/covid-19-support-for-businesses
Self Employment & Universal Credit – https://www.gov.uk/self-employment-and-universal-credit
Employment & Support Allowance – https://www.gov.uk/employment-support-allowance
Covid-19 Small Business Government Grant – https://smallbusiness.co.uk/how-do-i-get-the-government-3000-coronavirus-grant-2549866/
Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan – https://smallbusiness.co.uk/how-do-i-apply-for-a-coronavirus-business-interruption-loan-2549863/
Citizen’s Advice – https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/help-if-on-a-low-income/if-youre-struggling-with-living-costs/
Emergency Funding – https://www.stepchange.org/debt-info/emergency-funding.aspx
Entertainment for Visually Impaired during coronavirus:
The National Theatre is streaming some of their performances for free:
https://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/nt-at-home
Andrew Lloyd Webber has a selection of musicals that are being shown for 48 hours:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdmPjhKMaXNNeCr1FjuMvag/featured
Vocal Eyes has a comprehensive list of accessible arts/culture that you can access at home:
https://vocaleyes.co.uk/
British Blind Sport has a list of home workouts you may want to try
https://britishblindsport.org.uk/stay-in-work-out/
Odette Batterel who has Stargardt’s has devised her own “Baked Bean Workout”. All you need is 2 tin cans to hand!
https://youtu.be/1ZNmaS3I_U0
The BBC are now providing daily lesson plans for every year group:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/articles/znbnscw
The Department of Education have set up Oak Academy, which is a resource hub of comprehensive online lessons.
https://www.thenational.academy/information-for-parents-pupils/
Alice Cadman who has Stargardt’s runs a music school called Sing Education and has provided great online music resources you can use at home.
http://www.singeducation.co.uk/musichomelearning/
Victa has produced links and ideas to do whilst staying at home:
https://www.victa.org.uk/ways-spend-time-home/