Wales

1. Patient signatures will be required on all NHS forms from Friday 20 October 2023. Forms without patient signatures will be returned by NWSSP to the Practice.
2. Prior to being able to deliver WGOS, the Practitioner must:
3. The new clinical fees and voucher values will come into effect from 20 October. GOS 3 forms issued prior to 20 October 2023 will be claimed with the ‘old’ value. GOS 3 forms issued on and after 20 October 2023 will be claimed with the ‘new’ value.
4. All paper NHS forms must be submitted within a 3 month deadline.
5. WGOS1,2 and 3 will come into effect from Friday 20 October 2023. WGOS4 and WGOS5 will follow in due course.  In the meantime, please continue with the arrangements that you currently have with the Health Board around other enhanced services e.g. IP, data capture etc
6. Currently, there is only one directed question in WGOS1 required from 20 October 2023 around smoking cessation, please see the Optometry Wales email from 18 October 2023 for further details. Further guidance will be made available at:  Latest News for Professionals – NHS Wales

1. 1. Complete the four Mandatory WGOS training hosted by HEIW on Y Ty Dysgu platform, and be EHEW accredited
   2. All staff colleagues assisting in the delivery of WGOS must complete their mandatory training hosted by HEW on Y Ty Dysgu platform before any delegated functions relevant to WGOS 1 can be undertaken.
   3. Please note that this is an ongoing requirement and not just for date of implementation

The WGOS Clinical manuals can be found here https://www.nhs.wales/sa/eye-care-wales/professionals/latest-news-for-professionals/wgos-pathways/wgos-service-manuals/

For further questions contact:

For listing: nwssp-primarycareservices@wales.nhs.uk

For education: heiw.optometry@wales.nhs.uk

For Optometry Wales: officemanager@optometrywales.com

The Eye Care Wales website has been updated.  Health and behaviour messaging resources, clinical manuals, webinar recordings, and Q&A sheets from the webinars are all hosted there.

We look forward to this significant evolution in Primary Care Contractor Optometry and thank you for your services.

www.optometrywales.org.uk

1 November 2023

Read letter here.

Vouchers at a glance.

16 October 2023

Posted behalf of NWSSP

Wales General Ophthalmic Services

Welsh Government have now laid regulations that will enable WGOS to begin 20^th October 2023.  You have a small window of opportunity to ensure you are able to provide service from that date.  Please do not delay and do not overlook this obligation.

Work undertaken from 20^th October 2023 can only be supported and remunerated if you are compliant as a Performer and as a Practice.

Please see the attached (Updated Zip Folder):

• WGOS personal checklists.
  • There is a checklist for a Performer, and a checklist for a Practice/Contractor.
  • These do not need to be submitted and are a personal aid for you.
• Contractor declaration for the introduction of WGOS form to be submitted.  The deadline for submitting this form is 17^th November.  You must complete a form for Health Board you provide services in.
• Annotations to current GOS/EHEW forms for WGOS 1 & 2 (including mobile)
• Crib sheets for practices:
  • At-a-glance vouchers
  • Recommended minimum intervals
  • Early recall dates
  • Eligibility (ENG & CYM versions)
• WGOS logo and logo guidance, should you wish to use it.  Please do not use it outside of the guidance.

As ever, NHS Wales are here to support you.  For further questions contact:
For listing: nwssp-primarycareservices@wales.nhs.uk

For education: heiw.optometry@wales.nhs.uk

For Optometry Wales: sharonbeatty@optometrywales.com

To note, Patient Signatures are required from 20.10.2023.

Please do not delay and do not overlook.

The changes coming into force are not optional and they will affect everybody.

We look forward to this significant evolution in Primary Care Contractor Optometry and thank you for your services.

The Eye Care Wales website is being updated.  Manuals, webinar recordings, and Q&A sheets from the webinars are all hosted there.

CYM-Eligibility for WGOS 1

Vouchers Repairs Supplements and clinical fees table for WGOS statement for sharing_V3_PDF1

WGOS COMMS 3 13.10.23-UPDATED FINAL WGOS paperwork completion_13.10.23

WGOS Resource pack

WGOS-Am I ready-Contractor Practice

WGOS-Am I ready-Practitioner

WGOS-Eligibility

WGOS-Intervals

WGOS-Recall codes

WGOS-Vouchers

10 October 2023

Explanatory Memorandum for subordinate legislation

The National Health Service (Optical Charges and Payments) (Amendment) (Wales) Regulations 2023 (senedd.wales)

The National Health Service (Ophthalmic Services) (Wales) Regulations 2023 (senedd.wales)

Written Statement: Reform of primary care ophthalmic services (29 September 2023) | GOV.WALES

Datganiad Ysgrifenedig: Diwygio gwasanaethau offthalmig gofal sylfaenol (29 Medi 2023) | LLYW.CYMRU

PPV guidance

WGOS Comms 4

Number 6 – ENG

Number 6 – CYM

Number 5 – ENG

Number 5 – CYM 

For queries regarding the application form and process please contact NWSSP at: nwssp-primarycareservices@wales.nhs.uk

For queries regarding EHEW accreditation and WGOS mandatory training please contact HEIW at: heiw.optometry@wales.nhs.uk

For queries regarding mobile equipment requirements please contact: sharonbeatty@optometrywales.co

Previous newsletters can be found here.

For the recent webinars, you can still view them on: WGOS Recordings – NHS Wales