Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Will the web form screen showing claims submitted, show previous records?

Yes. This will be from the claims management screen and can be filtered accordingly. Please note that claims with the status ‘Submitted OK’ will not be there permanently. They will only be visible temporarily. Claims with the status ‘Submitted with errors’ however will be visible permanently until the claim is successfully submitted or deleted by the contractor.

Can CGS primary assessments be sent a day or two earlier than 12 months?

No. The Legal Directions for the service state that a primary community glaucoma assessment is to be carried out for each registered patient at least every 18 months, but no more frequently than every 12 months. The validation on the payment system has no flexibility on this.

What should a practice do with paper consent forms?

The forms should be uploaded to OpenEyes and the original can be destroyed.

Will there be an electronic consent form?

Not at present. Please note that such change would be tied into the development of electronic signatures for general ophthalmic services (GOS) and would not be developed for CGS only.

Can practice staff complete the web form prior to the accredited provider / accredited clinician entering their PIN?

Yes. The practice staff can create and save the form, but the form must be submitted by the accredited clinician/ provider with the use of their own pin number. The accredited clinician/provider should always doublecheck the information on the form as they take full responsibility for the information submitted.

Is the hospital date the start of registration?

No. The registration start date is the patient consent date.

When submitting a registration, when will you know you can send the assessment?

When a registration is submitted through the web form and shows ‘submitted’ in green, you can then submit the assessment. We advise to wait 5 minutes before submitting the assessment after a registration has been submitted.

Where does the prescription information come from?

It would come from the last record we hold for the patient. This will be a GOS(S)3 if applicable; we have all the historical records for GOS transactions, so it will be the last one we have on record. It is important to note that this may not be the last sight test that the patient has had.

How does an optometrist get login details for eOphthalmic in order to submit CGS claims?

You will need to complete the username and password form found on this page: How to set up an eOphthalmic account | National Services Scotland (nhs.scot) Once this has been completed, you will need to send this by email to our customer admin team at nss.psd-customer-admin@nhs.scot

How do I know when a CGS patient is deceased?

CHI checks are completed at NSS to identify deceased patients. If we discover a deceased patient, we will deregister the patient and get in touch with you. If you are notified that a patient is deceased before they are removed, then you should submit a deregistration form for the patient.

I have completed my first CGS patient and want to repeat their visual fields. Is this something that I just write in OpenEyes and recall them myself, or do I need approval for supplementary appointments?

You do not need prior approval for repeat visual fields. The Optometry Enhanced Services (Glaucoma) (Scotland) Directions 2024 (“Directions”) provides clarification on when a supplementary appointment can be made. You must be satisfied that the patient is eligible for a supplementary assessment and meets one of the two categories laid out in the Directions. The patient record should clearly show why the supplementary assessment took place. Please see the appropriate section of the Directions below. Supplementary Community Glaucoma Assessment 4. A supplementary community glaucoma assessment (“SCGA”) may be carried out where— (a) during a PCGA, an accredited clinician has noted change in the registered patient’s glaucoma or ocular hypertension and the accredited clinician wishes to review them in order to confirm the treatment path to be followed, or (b) a registered patient has presented to an accredited clinician with concerns which the accredited clinician reasonably considers to be related to their glaucoma or ocular hypertension. 5. A SCGA is to include a discussion with the registered patient and such tests and examinations as the accredited clinician considers clinically appropriate.

I would like to withdraw from CGS. What should I do?

If you would like to change the service that you provide, you must notify the Health Board. This allows Health Boards to ensure that registered patients have ongoing care. Changes can include:

• Plans to withdraw from CGS (3 month notice period is required)
• Extended periods of leave*
• Any other situation impacting CGS service provision*

• N.B. Notification should be given in advance of an event that may impact provision or, where it is not possible to do so in advance, within 7 days of an event occurring that impacts provision.

How frequently must I see a CGS registered patient in order to receive registration payments?

In line with the The Optometry Enhanced Services (Glaucoma) (Scotland) Directions 2024 (“Directions”), a primary community glaucoma assessment is to be carried out for each registered patient at least every 18 months, but no more frequently than every 12 months. Registration payments for CGS patients will stop if they do not have a Primary Community Glaucoma Assessment (PCGA):

• within the 21-month period following their registration; or
• within the 21-month period following their last PCGA Payments will resume from the month the patient has the overdue PCGA, which may result in a gap in your payments.