Coronavirus (COVID-19) Archive

** All historical information below has been moved from the main Coronavirus (COVID-19) Information page ** 

CMO Letters

  1. HSS(MD) 68/2020 - 23.09.2020 - Letter to All Health and Social Care Workers Encouraging Everyone to Optain the Flu Vaccination is available HERE

  2. Circular HSC (SQSD) (NICE IPG) 16/20 - 02.09.2020 - NICE Interventional Procedures Guidance - Bi-monthly HSC Communication - July & August 2020 is available HERE

  3. HSS(MD) 60/2020 - 18.08.2020 - COVID-19 Research Letter from UK CMO's and NHS Medical Director is available HERE

  4. HSS(MD) 59/2020 -18.08.2020 - Seasonal Influenza Vaccination Programme 2020/21 is available HERE

  5. HSS(MD) 58/2020 - 11.08.2020 - Use of Face Masks and Face Coverings in all Health and Social Care settings is available HERE

  6. HSS(MD) 47/2020 - 16.06.2020 - Dexamethasone in COVID-19 is available HERE and letter from the UK CMO's and Medical Director of NHS England is available HERE

  7. HSS(MD) 45/2020 - 13.06.2020 - Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR), as an Aerosol Generating Procedure (AGP) is available HERE

  8. HSS(MD) 38/2020 - 29.05.2020 - COVID-19 Contact Tracing Strategy & Programme in Northern Ireland - "Test, Trace and Protect" is available HERE

  9. NEW CAS Alert - 15 May CW is available HERE

  10. HSS(MD) 35/2020 - 18.05.2020 - COVID-19 Case Definition Change is available HERE

  11. HSS(MD) 32/2020 - 05.05.2020 - Yellow Card Reporting Site for Healthcare Products Used in Coronavirus (COVID-19) is available HERE

  12. Letter from Dr Michael McBride - letter from the 4 UK CMOs and Medical Directors of PHE and NHS England- 04.05.2020 is available HERE and UK CMOs PHE, NHS and MD letter to staff - 01.05.2020 is available HERE

  13. HSS(MD) 26/2020 - 19.04.2020 - COVID-19 PPE Guidance Update is available HERE

  14. HSS(MD) 23/2020 - 15.04.2020 - Ibuprofen and Coronavirus Guidance is available HERE

  15. HSS(MD) 20/2020 - 03.04.2020 - Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Guidance Update is available HERE

  16. HSS(MD) 19/2020 - 28.03.2020 - Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) - Update to Service is available HERE

  17. HSS(MD) 17/2020 - 27.03.2020 - COVID-19 Chloroquine & Hydroxychloroquine not licensed for COVID-19 Treatment is available HERE

  18. HSS(MD) 15/2020 - 19.03.2020 - Novel Coronavirus - Anti-inflammatory medications is available HERE

  19. HSS(MD) 14/2020 - 13.03.2020 - Novel Coronavirus: Advice for HSC in Northern Ireland is available HERE 

  20. HSS(MD) 5/2020 - 31.01.2020 - Updated Advice - Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) is available HERE

 

Bulletins

  1. Optometry COVID-19 Bulletin No.1 is available HERE

  2. Optometry COVID-19 Bulletin No.2 is available HERE

  3. Optometry COVID-19 Bulletin No.3 is available HERE

  4. Optometry COVID-19 Bulletin No.4 is available HERE

  5. Optometry COVID-19 Bulletin No.5 is available HERE

  6. Optometry COVID-19 Bulletin No.6 is available HERE

  7. Optometry COVID-19 Bulletin No.7 is available HERE

  8. Optometry COVID-19 Bulletin No.8 is available HERE

  9. Optometry COVID-19 Bulletin No.9 is available HERE

  10. Optometry COVID-19 Bulletin No.10 is available HERE

  11. Optometry COVID-19 Bulletin No.11 is available HERE

  12. Optometry COVID-19 Bulletin No.12 is available HERE

  13. Optometry COVID-19 Bulletin No.13 is available HERE

  14. Optometry COVID-19 Bulletin No.14 is available HERE

  15. Optometry COVID-19 Bulletin No.15 is available HERE

 

Key Information

  1. Re-establishment of Primary Care Ophthalmic Services - Operational Guidance (v7) (20.01.2022) (Deactivated 15.09.22) is available HERE

  2. PHE - COVID-19 Infection Prevention and Control Guidance (20.08.2020) is available HERE

  3. Template for FSS Assurance Monitoring - Ophthalmic Contractors (17.08.2020) is available HERE

  4. Letter from HSCB re Q2 PPE Provision - (10.08.2020) is available HERE

  5. NIA-2020-02 Risks associated with alcohol based hand sanitisers (29.05.2020) is available HERE

  6. Acute Eyecare Pathway Important Update - Eye Casualty Changes (29.05.2020) is available HERE

  7. HSCB - Frequently asked questions on wearing PPE V1 (01.05.2020) is available HERE

  8. HSCB - Infection prevention & control recap (01.05.2020) is available HERE

  9. FAQ's to assist in the completion of the the weekly (FSS) Survey Monkey monitoring return (01.05.2020) are available HERE

  10. RNIB Press Release on Diabetic Retinal Screening (28.04.2020) is available HERE

  11. Letter from HSCB - Interim Protocol for testing for COVID-19 for Optometry Professionals (28.04.2020) is available HERE

  12. COVID-19 Strategic Direction GOS (07.04.2020) is available HERE

  13. HSCB Letter to Community Pharmacies RE: Essential and Urgent Primary Eyecare (02.04.2020) is available HERE

  14. Optometry Services (Urgent Care Activity Record) April 2020 is available HERE

  15. HSCB Letter to GP Practices RE: Essential and Urgent Primary Eye Care (31.03.2020) is available HERE

  16. Financial Support For Ophthalmic Contractors (25.03.2020) is available HERE 

  17. HSCB Advice for Ophthalmic Contractors - Ophthalmic Service Suspension (23.03.2020) is available HERE

  18. Urgent Communication - COVID-19: Advice for Ophthalmic Contractors (20.03.2020) is available HERE

  19. Click HERE for a Map of the specified areas in Italy affected.

  20. Click HERE for a Map of specified areas affected.

  21. Click HERE for advice and information resources from PHA (Public Health Agency).

  22. An Advice Poster is available HERE

  23. A Pathway flow-chart is available HERE

  24. COVID-19 Lines to take for Helpline operatives (Version 7.4) (13.03.2020) is available HERE 

 

Urgent Eyecare: Provision Arrangements (COVID-19 Lockdown Period)

  1. COVID-19 Urgent Care Guidance (23.04.2020) is available HERE

  2. Urgent Eyecare Service - Important Update on Claim Process (01.05.2020) is available HERE

The eform that can be used for assessments carried out from this date can be found  HERE . This should be used for NI PEARS claims that cannot be claimed via OCS

 

HSC Rebuilding Services

  1. Letter from HSCB - RE: Phase 3b Rebuilding of HSC Eyecare Services (09.09.2020) is available HERE

  2. Letter from HSCB - RE: Phase 3a Rebuilding of HSC Eyecare Services (26.08.2020) is available HERE

  3. Letter from HSCB - RE: Phase 2 Rebuilding of HSC Primary Eyecare Services (27.07.2020) is available HERE

  4. Letter from HSCB - RE: Phase 1 Rebuilding of HSC Primary Eyecare Services (17.06.2020) is available HERE