LOC Minutes 18-05-2017
In attendance
Divya Sudera (Vice Chair)DS
Peter Hampson (Secretary)PH
Louise Sarjeant (Treasurer)LS
Koyas AliKA
Helenmary AttewellHA
Martin AttewellMA
Inderpal Bansal IB
Jaspinderpal BansalJB
Saima BegumSB
Majid JawaidMJ
Wasim Sarwar WS
Paul SidhuPS
Richard StokesRS
David Wright DW
Apologies –Roger Meredith (RM), Peter Bainbridge (PB)
Minutes of previous meeting–Proposed as correct by DW, seconded by JB
Secretary’s Business
PH the audits are still ongoing. The big issue is charging the costs of the audits of up to £10,000 on top of the repayments. The AOP has written new a new audit protocol, just waiting for a meeting to confirm.RS does everyone who’s going to be audited know about it? PH I think so. Mainly Birmingham, only one in Sandwell. May do more next year.
PH concerns about referral of some practitioners to performance advisory group due to incidental findings of poor record keeping. Problem is once an OA is reviewing records, if they have concerns, have to refer.
LOC Company
PS there’s £47,000 in the bank. May be able to pay back LOC loans at the end of the financial year, some outstanding charges for training sessions. There have been no complaints. Wolverhampton’s services have been recommissioned, with a slight change in service specifications.
DS Dudley hoping to roll out MECS next year. PH as trusts removing fax machines, will need to complete IG. Optomanager is due a big overhaul as they want to move platform within N3. There is the new General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Need to ensure it’s worth the cost of completing.
CET Officer
WS the CET event went well. The next one is 26th Feb 2018.
Walsall’s CET officer asked if we can do some peer discussion for them. The regional company would commission it.
MECS revalidation – certain CET is needed to maintain contract. Will do MECS peer discussions, may do some evening sessions. Need regional company to sign off sessions.
PH do we have a list of who has completed revalidation? DS will get a list of optoms and then correlate with those that attended.
WS for AGM want to get Kam Balaggan. PH concerned about his talks setting standards that contradict MECS. DS will be a flashes & floaters lecture. IB KB says that he will only be able to support practitioners that dilate with T&P and use Volk SF or better. PH that isn’t the standard that the GOC and COptoms set.
WS sent survey asking if further training requested. Many replies wanted red eye workshop and VR practical workshop. Wolverhampton Eye Infirmary would be willing to fund. MJ that might open the flood gates to what is expected from us. Would devalue optoms, if there are super optoms.
PH we wouldn’t necessarily be able to get good at these skills. RS Miss Hope-Ross said you needed to do at least 1000 3-mirror exams to get ok, 3000 to get good.
HA same scenario as when tonometers and field screeners first came in. Did extra work for no money, and now compulsory as part of GOS contract.
IB KB can give talk, and individual optoms can take away what they want. PH have to be careful optoms don’t think that’s the standard, and go back to employers saying “I need to do this”.
PH concerned that Wolverhampton have changed the service spec to include compulsory VR training. Now difficult to align services across the region.
Treasurer’s Business
LS –payments regular, bank account healthy. Can look to reduce levy.
A.O.B.
SB it was mentioned at the last meeting about me shadowing someone. PH need to discuss.
PS at AGM need to have elections. Well re-elect all committee, and split into 1,2 or 3 year term lengths. Discuss elections at next meeting.
JB cataract referrals via Optomanager are very slow/non-existent. Pxs are having to chase appointments.
DS will ask for Birmingham’s place to go to NOC. SB & WS would like to attend. Only one day now so less expense.
WS gave a talk to Sandwell CCGs. Wanted to know why optoms refer stuff! Sent them a document about referrals.
Date of Next Meeting
Thursday 30thNovember 2017, 6pm for 6:30pm start at Sandwell Golf Course
AGM tbc 22nd March 2018?