Quality for Optometry

Completion of the Quality for Optometry Requirements are a contractual requirement as listed in The National Health Service (Ophthalmic Services) (Wales) Regulations 2023

There are several mandatory elements:

1. All practice managers and employees involved in the provision of NHS WGOS will have completed the Optometry Improving Quality Together Foundations e-learning package as part of their mandatory WGOS training.
2. Completion of a Quality improvement and governance self – assessment toolkit. QFO Annual Return 2024
3. Completion of a Workforce Reporting tool
4. Completion of three Service Insights (audits).

Workforce Reporting Tool: WGOS Workforce Data Capture Template

Completion of the WGOS Workforce Data Capture Template is a mandatory requirement.

Please read the Optometry Services Launch Communication and the WGOS Workforce Capture Guidance and FAQs

Practices will need to:

• Nominate details of your representative as key point of contact by 07.02.25
• Provide NWSSP with a unique email address for your representative (generic shared email address is not suitable)
• Complete the Staff Data Collection Template by 21.02.25
• Notify NWSSP of any changes to your workforce by the 5th working day of every month for employed staff (GOC/GMC registered staff only) and on a quarterly basis for Locums (GOC/GMC registered staff only).

Workforce data Locum Capture Details

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Quality for Optometry Annual Return

Completion of the toolkit  QFO-Annual-Return-2024-.xlsx is a mandatory requirement.

Practices will need to complete all sections and submit the required documents for review by the Local Health Board by 31/01/2025.

Each LHB will confirm the email address as to where to send the document(s) to. Within the attached template there are set instructions on the first tab and a declaration to complete on the final tab. (Please be aware that the toolkit may open on the declaration tab and practices will need to arrow left to uncover the other tabs).

As this is the first time practices will have completed the toolkit, Optometry Wales has created a guidance document  for contractors to use. Optometry Wales Guidance QfO – (PDF) /(Word)

This toolkit is separate to the Information Governance (IG) Toolkit that had been released previously by some Health Boards which can be found here IG Toolkit

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Service Insights – NHS Wales

WGOS Service Insight 3_2024-2025 now requires action. You can access the Insight by completing the spreadsheet.  Prior to doing so, please read the information below.

This Insight will capture practice activity over a retrospective 2-week period, from Monday 4^th of November 2024 – Sunday the 17^th of November 2024 (inclusive). Questionnaires must be returned by Sunday 23^rd February (23:59) via email to nwssp-primarycareservices@wales.nhs.uk.

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Information around the second Service Insight – WGOS1 Smoking Cessation, can be found here WGOS-Newsletter-15-1.pdf

Information around the first Service Insight – Environment, can be found here WGOS Newsletter 12

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Useful Resources