The NHS Eyecare Pathway Pilots

1. The NHS Eyecare Pathway Pilots Andrew Kent Anita Lightstone NHS Eyecare Services Team

2. The NHS Eyecare Pathway Pilots • Plan: • Programme outline • Pathway principles • Where are we now? • Roles and responsibilities • What next?

3. The NHS Eyecare Pathway Pilots The National Eye Care Steering Group • Set up by the Department of Health in 2002, with representatives of: • ophthalmologists • optometrists and dispensing opticians • orthoptists • ophthalmic nurses • patient organisations • health,social care & policy organisations

4. The NHS Eyecare Pathway PilotsThe National Eye Care Steering Group Group’s initial remit: • To develop proposals for the modernisation of NHS eye care services • first priority to develop model pathways for: • cataract • glaucoma • low vision • age related macular degeneration

5. The NHS Eyecare Pathway PilotsThe National Eye Care Steering Group • Pathway principles: • To develop innovative approaches, for example partnerships with the voluntary sector • To remove barriers to and streamline services • To provide services where and when they can be easily accessed • To increase awareness of the importance of eye health • To make better use of professionals

6. ophthalmologists social care third sector orthoptists patient GPs NHS opticians nurses optometrists Dept of Health The NHS Eyecare Pathway PilotsPathway principles

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10. The NHS Eyecare Pathway Pilots Sites Glaucoma: • Peterborough, North Birmingham and East Devon, Waltham Forest Age Related Macular Degeneration: • Brighton and Hove, Waltham Forest Low Vision: • Gateshead, Sutton, Merton and Wandsworth, Barking and Dagenham and Havering, Waltham Forest

11. The NHS Eyecare Pathway Pilots Associate low vision sites: • Brighton and Hove • South Lincolnshire • Mid and East Devon • Hartlepool • Northumberland • South Worcestershire • Morecambe Bay • New Forest

12. The NHS Eyecare Pathway Pilots Pilot update: • Several pilots now in the process of becoming “mainstream” services • External evaluation underway and will be completed by the end of the year • Sharing of outcomes at “Delivering the Vision, January 2007 and looking to the future

13. The NHS Eyecare Pathway Pilots Mainstreaming: • Local review of service to assess local value/success/need • Need for inclusion by PCTs of the service into Local Delivery Plans • Review of contractual arrangements and agreement of new contract/handover

14. The NHS Eyecare Pathway Pilots Evaluation: • Both internal (at pilot level) and external evaluation being undertaken • External evaluation will cover: • Pilot outcomes – did they achieve what they set out to do? • How effective was this? • Patient and staff views

15. The NHS Eyecare Pathway Pilots Evaluation • External evaluation will cover: • Associated issues – e.g. training, governance, sustainability and roll-out • Costs • Availability of robust data • Comparison between pilots, where appropriate

16. The NHS Eyecare Pathway Pilots • Anecdotal findings

17. The NHS Eyecare Pathway Pilots • So where and how do the professionals fit in?

18. The NHS Eyecare Pathway Pilotswhat next? • Sharing of learning - Delivering the Vision, January 2007 • Revision of the pathway and guidelines • GOS review • On-going promotion of community based services

19. The NHS Eyecare Pathway PilotsClosing thoughts • Be objective about new ways of working • Be aware of your patients’ fears and concerns • Provide clear and concise information • Work for better eye care services

20. The NHS Eyecare Pathway Pilots • Thank you for your attention • Any questions? www.eyecare.nhs.uk