Tucked away in the leafy heart of Kenilworth, Warwick, more than 200 Local Optical Committee (LOC) delegates are gathering at the Chesford Grange Hotel for a new-look, one-day National Optical Conference (NOC).
As in previous years, the 2017 conference will give attendees the opportunity to earn CET points through a variety of specialist workshops, including a ‘Community Monitoring for Glaucoma’ discussion and a ‘Governance Game’ session, aimed at expanding their clinical skills.
However, before separating into smaller focus groups, delegates listen to a ‘Review of the Year’ delivered by Local Optical Committee Support Unit (Locsu) chief operating officer Richard Whittingham.
In accordance with Locsu chair Alan Tinger’s welcome speech, Whittingham speaks about the impact Brexit would have on the future of the commissioning environment; a political occurrence which appears to have shaped Locsu’s plans for the new year.
PEC consolidation
Locsu’s proposal to consolidate and reduce the number of Primary Eyecare Companies (PECs) is the main topic of discussion, prompting a flurry of questions in the discussions which follows Whittingham’s address.
The chief operating officer explains that, in order to reflect the NHS commissioning landscape of Sustainable Transformation Partnerships (STPs), the optical sector would have to evolve by adopting a centralised system of PECs.
‘STPs support the Primary Eyecare Company model, but there is now a need to consolidate these organisations into wider, more regional, organisations,’ says Whittingham.
Under the new proposals, LOCs would be asked to embrace a consolidation of PECs around STPs and multiple STP footprints, resulting in an overall reduction of PECs. With this, Locsu hopes it would be able to achieve its strategic objective to deliver eye health services at scale.
Among the benefits, Whittingham explains to delegates that a centralised system working through 44 STPs would ‘improve PEC professionalism, improve consistency of delivery and drive down costs,’ paving the way for greater IT development.
The Locsu spokesman then uses Primary Eye Care Southern as an example of how PECs could work together to establish ‘credible’ services. The mega-PEC now covers 10 LOCs after starting up with five: East Sussex, West Sussex, Dorset, Wiltshire and Hampshire.
A series of workshops took place on the day
‘This merger, which ultimately covers the entire southern part of England, offers a blueprint for others in terms of the merger discussion process, the structure and the governance,’ says Whittingham.
Positive changes
In other news, it is announced that, despite a slow-down in local commissioning decisions, there was a 22% (30% to 52%) increase in the number of Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) with or intending to introduce Minor Eye Conditions Services. Above all, the speakers at NOC 2017 put this healthy increase down to the work of the Commissioning Leads group who offered intensive support for LOCs and PECs.
Last year, Locsu set itself the objective of reaching 60% by the end of 2017 through its Breakthrough Strategy. However, despite falling short of its original target, Whittingham says he is confident the group would meet its second-year target of 80%.
Meanwhile, it is revealed that Locsu’s ‘step down care’ programme will be renamed the ‘community monitoring services’, with the group revealing that it had sometimes been considered a lesser service by the public because of its title.
Richard Whittingham delivers a review of the year
Communication
Another key topic which is discussed at this year’s National Optical Conference is communication. During his address, Whittingham reveals that, in the last year, Locsu had revolutionised its communications strategy by embracing modern technologies.
With more and more people using mobile devices to access information, he explains that Locsu had taken the decision to employ social media as a vehicle to distribute the latest news to LOC officers and the optical community. He continues to say that at the start of 2017 a Locsu Facebook page was created, giving members the opportunity to keep abreast of recent stories and updates. Moreover, Locsu’s Twitter followers have increased to just over 900, up from 200 in 2015.
Interactive workshops engage the delegates
Despite acknowledging the success of Locsu’s communications push, the chief operating officer admits that the organisation was still not using these channels ‘regularly enough’ and states that a ‘bigger effort’ would be needed to further develop Locsu’s social media presence.
Online video tutorials posted on Locsu’s Facebook page are revealed to have been a big hit with members of the optical community. By visiting Locsu’s YouTube channel, Whittingham says users can now gain access to short support clips, such as a step-by-step guide aimed at helping new qualified optometrists to complete their NHS Performers List application.
Key points and stats:
- There was a 22% increase (30% to 52%) in the number of CCGs with or intending to introduce Mecs
- Locsu failed to reach its target of 60% by 2017 for its Breakthrough Strategy
- Locsu plan to nationalise the PEC system which will work through 41 STPs
- Locsu has stepped up its communications strategy by using social media as a platform to connect with members and distribute information
- Step down service to be renamed community monitoring services
- 661 services now in place
- 48 LOCs (62%) have Mecs pathway
- 55 LOCs (71%) have a service through a PEC
- 75 out of 78 (96%) of LOCs have at least one community service
- 31 out of 41 PECs have at least one community service
- 183 CCGs have at least one community service