The National Health Service (General Ophthalmic Services) (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2018

Amendment of the National Health Service (General Ophthalmic Services) (Scotland) Regulations 2006

10.—(1) Schedule 1 (terms of service) is amended as follows.

(2) In paragraph 2 (incorporation of provisions)—

(a) for sub-paragraph (g) substitute—

“(g) the College of Optometrists’ Guidance for Professional Practice(1);”;

(b) at the end of sub-paragraph (g) omit “and”; and

(c) after sub-paragraph (h)(2) insert—

“; and

(i) Scottish Intercollegiate Guidance Network 144: Glaucoma Referral and Safe Discharge(3).”.

(3) In paragraph 3(1) (certificate of training), for “applanation tonometry” substitute “contact applanation tonometry using a Goldmann type tonometer”.

(4) After paragraph 3 insert—

“Mandatory training

3A.— (1) Except in the case of a body corporate, in each relevant period an ophthalmic medical practitioner or optician providing or assisting in the provision of general ophthalmic services must—

(a) undertake a course of training provided by NHS Education for Scotland which comprises training on any or all of the following topics:—

(i) the content and application of these Regulations and other relevant rules and law;

(ii) record keeping;

(iii) leadership, managing and working within an ophthalmic practice;

(iv) clinical skills and governance;

(v) managing ocular conditions;

(vi) ethical and professional obligations;

(vii) best practice guidance; and

(b) provide the Board with a certificate confirming that the ophthalmic medical practitioner or optician has completed the training satisfactorily.

(2) In this paragraph “relevant period” means each of the following periods—

(a) 1st October 2018 until 31st December 2020;

(b) 1st January 2021 until 31st December 2021; and

(c) each successive period of 12 months after the period specified in head (b).”.

(5) In paragraph 13 (payments)—

(a) in sub-paragraph (1A)(4), omit “either sub-paragraphs (2) and (3), or”;

(b) omit sub-paragraphs (2) and (3);

(c) in sub-paragraph (3B)(5)—

(i) omit “by means of electronic communication”; and

(ii) after “(3A)” insert “or (4A)”; and

(d) after sub-paragraph (4) insert—

“(4A) The claim referred to in sub-paragraph (4) must be submitted to the Agency by electronic communication and must contain the PIN allocated to the ophthalmic medical practitioner or optician who assists the contractor in the provision of general ophthalmic services.”.

(6) In paragraph 14(1A)(6) (eye examinations)—

(a) before “needs” insert “presenting signs, symptoms and”;

(b) at the end of head (a) omit “or”; and

(c) after head (a) insert—

“(aa) in the judgement of the ophthalmic medical practitioner or optician, the test or procedure is clinically inappropriate for any other reason; or”.

(1)

Guidance for Professional Practice was published on 24th November 2017, and is available at https://guidance.college-optometrists.org/home/. A paper copy of this guidance was made available to members of the College of Optometrists in February 2018.

(2)

Paragraph 2(h) of schedule 1 was inserted by S.S.I. 2012/36.

(3)

Scottish Intercollegiate Guidance Network 144: Glaucoma Referral and Safe Discharge (ISBN 978 1 909103 36 8) was published in 2015 in Edinburgh by Health Improvement Scotland and the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidance Network. An online version is available at http://www.sign.ac.uk/assets/sign144.pdf.

(4)

Paragraph 13(1A) of schedule 1 was inserted by S.S.I. 2015/219.

(5)

Paragraph 13(3B) of schedule 1 was inserted by S.S.I. 2015/219.

(6)

Paragraph 14(1A) of schedule 1 was inserted by S.S.I. 2013/355.