Experts show united front on NHS reforms

Eye care experts voiced their concerns about NHS reforms at a meeting of the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Eye Health and Visual Impairment.

It was stressed that commissioners must work closely with eye care clinicians, third sector groups and patients for eye care to improve.

Those consulted on eye care at last week's meeting included Dr Susan Blakeney, optometric adviser at the College of Optometrists, Dr Waqaar Shah, a GP from London and a Royal College of General Practitioners leader in eye care, Richard Smith, consultant ophthalmologist and Royal College of Ophthalmologists (RCO) chair of the quality and standards group, and Steve Winyard, head of policy and campaigns at the Royal National Institute for Blind People.

The government's evolving Health and Social Care Bill aims to find £20bn of efficiency gains in the NHS in England by 2015.

One efficiency gain, the experts agreed, was using electronic patient records to improve connectivity between optometry and hospital eye services, together with electronic GOS forms.

The group raised concerns about how the new NHS commissioners would be co-ordinated, but praised the recent publication of guidance for commissioners led by the UK Vision Strategy. A supporting joint initiative between the College and the RCO had also added further clinical detail, it was noted.

Stuart Holland, who leads public affairs at the College, said: 'It is great to see optometrists, ophthalmologists, GPs, the third sector and politicians all reaching agreement on how to make sure the NHS reforms benefit patients. The College will keep pushing these messages in our meetings with the people leading these reforms nationally and on the ground.'

There was also agreement that an indicator for eye health should be included in the Public Health Outcomes Framework, which the government intends to publish in the autumn (News 05.08.11).

The next meeting of the APPG is on November 29 2011 and will look at public health and eye care. The group has invited health minister Lord Howe to attend.

Source: Optician Online September 2011 http://www.opticianonline.net/Articles/2011/09/23/28258/Experts+show+united+front+on+NHS+reform.html