10 February 2021

Vaccine portal for locums and non-NHS practices

If you are a locum or non-NHS provider practice staff, LOCSU has created a vaccine portal to ensure you are registered locally to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.

All optical practice staff are a priority group for Covid-19 vaccination.

LOCs are working locally across England to create lists of staff employed in GOS practices, this work is moving ahead rapidly and we would like to thank all LOCs for their ongoing work in very challenging circumstances.

The published government guidance confirms that Locums and non-NHS provider practices are entitled to be included in this phase of the vaccination process. There are various ways that Locums and non-NHS providing practices can be included on a list to receive a vaccination:

  • Locums and non-NHS provider practices who are aware of their local LOC, please contact them to be added to the lists being created. Click here to access the LOC-Online portal with links to all LOCs in England with a web presence.
  • Locums may be included on a practice list submitted to the local LOC as above. Please check with practices you work with to find out whether this is the case.
  • Locums may also be able to register directly with their CCG or PCN. If you have these relationships then please make contact to establish whether you are included on a list.

If you are a Locum and none of the above applies to you, please complete the Locum Form [now closed]. This will ensure that you are included on the vaccination list.

If you are a non-NHS practice and none of the above applies to you, please complete the Non-NHS Practices Form to add you and your staff to the vaccination list.

If you have any questions, please email info@locsu.co.uk

This article was correct at time of publication. 

Related further reading

For the very last issue of Optometry in Practice, Professor Jonathan Jackson MCOptom reflects on the past two decades of the journal and its contribution to our learning.

This paper describes how viruses infect, reproduce and damage cells. Knowing this process is critical for understanding how to treat ocular viral infections.