New Postal Address and Telephone Numbers

When sending any correspondence please address to Eileen Rainey, NHS Manchester, Finance Department, Ground Floor, Parkway Three, Parkway Business Centre, Princess Road, Manchester, M14 7LU.

New Telephone Numbers

Eileen Rainey 0161 765 4248
Debbie Mortimer 0161 765 4247
Anita Stanley 0161 765 4246
Switchboard 0161 765 4000
Fax Number 0161 226 4280

Supplies Department

The NHS Manchester Supplies Department Team has now relocated from Gateway House to Mauldeth House Mauldeth Road West Chorlton Manchester M21 7RL. Please fax all orders to 0161 881 9366. Contact details for Barbara Beer 0161 958 4165 Ian Deveney and 0161 958 4029 Ian Williams 0161 958 4033 with effect from 7th December 2009.

Contracts Department

From a contractual perspective, the contractor is obliged to comply with Section 10 of the standards GOS contract, clauses 45-51 that clearly states the grounds on which a contractor employs any person(s) under the contract.
Please check with the contracts team that the employee is registered on a PCT list and has a relevant OPL number.

Specimen Signature

Can all Practice’s update the enclosed Specimen Signature form and return to Parkway Three as soon as possible.

Cataract and Glaucoma Referrals

When completing this form can you please complete all sections clearly as we have to maintain a database using all the information, if possible can you identify if the patient is male/female and enter Accreditation Number (Cataracts). Please ensure patient’s signature is present.

Cataract Referral

The Referral Booking Management Service (RMBS) has moved to Burnage Community Healthcare Centre 347 Burnage Lane Manchester M19 1EW.
The new contact telephone number is 0161 443 0631, Fax number is 0161 443 0632
The patient telephone number is 0800 092 4020
  
When ordering Cataract Screening Stationery please Fax 0161 226 4280 or telephone Judy Smith on 0161 765 4088.

Domiciliary Visits

Regulations state that, in addition to the standard sight test fee of  £20.26, a domiciliary fee will be payable by the PCT to the contractor of  £35.67 for each of the first and second sight tests provided to eligible persons during the course of any one visit; and  £8.93 for the third and each subsequent sight test provided to eligible persons during that visit.

John Hearnshaw Primary Care Commissioning Advisor has confirmed that, if the performer does not need to put the equipment back into the car and drive it to another location, it is all one visit and contractors should only get the higher fee for the first two patients and the lower fee for all the rest at that visit.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

South Manchester Diabetic Retinopathy Screening Service Agreement (SLA)   
It has been brought to our attention that on delivery of the above, the date of the agreement on the front page has been omitted or the wrong date supplied.  
Could you check your agreement and please change the date to 1st January 2009 as the commencement date.
Please contact Judy Smith – Optometry Services Manager on 0161 765 4088 if you have any enquiries regarding this matter.

Clarification regarding frequency of   Sight Tests

NHS Manchester has taken advice from our Optometric Advisor who advised the frequency of sight tests is 2 years regardless if NHS or private, this would be the same for Vouchers. Judy Smith Optometry Services Manager.

New Address for Hospital Eye Vouchers

Please send all Hospital Eye Vouchers to The Dispensing Opticians, Out Patients Department, Ground Floor, Manchester Royal Eye Hospital, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9WL. There is a delay in processing payments at the moment at the Eye Hospital but this is being addressed. (Paul Showman)

Private Sight Tests

If a Patient has a Private Sight Test because either they weren’t eligible for a benefit at the time or they weren’t aware they were eligible for a benefit, the Practice can still issue a voucher after the event provided that the Practice is satisfied that the Private Sight Test was recent enough for it to be likely that the prescription will be unchanged.

If the Patient was eligible for an NHS sight test and knew they were eligible but they chose to have a private sight test anyway, then no NHS voucher can be issued

Patients declaration on GOS 3

Patients should only be asked to sign part 2 of the GOS 3 Voucher when ordering glasses and at that time they should be eligible for the entitlement that they have ticked.   If the patient chooses to take the GOS 3 Voucher elsewhere only Part 1 should be completed.

Annex 1 Sight Test Claims Docket

Practices should now use the revised Annex 1Docket when submitting
GOS 1’s; will you please enter Performers name and OPL number and if possible which PCT the Performer is registered.

Lost Voucher

Any patient reporting to a practice that they have lost their Voucher must write in to Parkway Three with an explanation as to how the loss occurred, this enables us to do a check on the system to see if they have used the voucher elsewhere. No duplicate voucher should be given without an authorisation letter from Manchester PCT.

Spare Pairs

No patients have ever been automatically entitled to a spare pair of glasses of the same prescription.   Requests from Opticians, Teachers and the School Nurse must now be requested by letter to the PCT and we will have them authorised by the Optometric Advisor if he agrees with the request.

Also there is no recourse for a repair or replacement for adult glasses unless they have been broken or lost due to ill health.   Patients who need help who do not fall into the above category must apply in writing to the PCT for the Chairman of the Local Optical Committee to approve.   Please do not ask patients to phone or call in to the office as we can not help and it sometimes causes offence.

Uncollected Vouchers and Repairs Part 4 patients declaration

Part 4 of the voucher should only be signed by the patient or carer when they are collecting there spectacles and not on the day of order.

Parent /Guardian signature

If patient is under 16 or incapable of signing Parent/Guardian or Carer should sign and also enter name in Block Capitals

Patients Declaration

Under no circumstances should a member of staff sign this declaration.

News

If any Practice would like to include anything in this newsletter please fax, write or email,                 [email protected]
                                             [email protected]
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Cut-Off Dates

The cut-off date for claims to be paid 18th March 2010 is Thursday 25th February 2010.   Please note claims received in our office after this date will not be paid until the following month.

Eileen, Debbie and Anita