Optician services

Tender description

The 5 year vision in Barnsley CCGs strategic commissioning plan states that there will be “wider primary care provided at scale”. Giving people the option of being able to access eye care in a timely manner in a more accessible location will ensure that this is the case. Since 2015 Barnsley CCG has commissioned a Minor Eye Condition Service (MECS) titled PEARS (Primary Eyecare Assessment and Referral Service). The aim of the optometry first scheme is to build on and expand the existing PEARS service into a more encompassing minor eye conditions service. In summary, an “Optometry First” MECS, would make a significant contribution towards relieving the unprecedented pressure ophthalmology services are facing as well as freeing up GP surgery time to focus on managing complex patients with long term conditions. The expected outcomes of the service are: Provide early local assessment and treatment of specified eye conditions. Reduce referrals into the secondary care environment; by appropriate streaming (activity levels to be contained within agreed plans). Provide timely assessment, diagnosis and treatment, measured as 100 % adherence to referral to treatment standards. Ensure clinical assessment and treatment (where required) is commenced within 24 hours from presentation for urgent and 5 day for non-urgent or routine patients. Provide urgent onward referral where required to secondary care by liaising with the provider. For routine patients that are either referred by a GP to a clinician (or who self-present to the provider) and need an onward referral to a secondary care outpatient appointment; the service will ensure that patients are referred using an electronic referral service (eRS). Ensure that all treatments undertaken under this scheme are delivered by optometrists who have completed training in and are accredited under the college of optometrists minor eye condition service qualification. Develop good communications with all referring GPs including sending of discharge reports within 5 working days of discharge. Liaise with secondary care where necessary to ensure a smooth transition of patients between all parts of the service. To provide an excellent patient experience by increasing the access for patients to Clinicians with specialised skills. To collaborate on future development of chronic eye care in the community to reduce use of secondary care services where appropriate, and to liaise with local opticians and optical committees in doing so. Support GP and pharmacist educational forums in collaboration with secondary care providers at least annually. The successful bidder will further be responsible for managing local enhanced services that will include but not be limited to pre and post-operative cataracts.