Integrated care systems: what they mean for optometrists
31 October 2022
Acuity digital
Integrated care systems became legal entities in England in July 2022. Kathy Oxtoby looks at how these changes will affect the profession.
The COVID-19 pandemic has taken its toll on the UK population’s eye health and on eye health services. In 2020, 4.3 million fewer people had an eye examination compared with 2019 – a 23% decline. Referrals to the hospital eye service dropped by 316,000 in March to December 2020 – a 28% decrease from the same period in 2019 (Specsavers, 2021).
Researchers also found the backlog of services was likely to result in significant costs for people with sight-threatening conditions, who – while they are waiting to be seen – live with a greater risk of falls and fear of further vision loss, and experience productivity losses and reduced quality of life (Specsavers, 2021).
However, changes in how the NHS commissions its services and where it treats patients may help tackle some of these backlogs in the future.
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Related further reading
The College of Optometrists has responded to the GOC consultation on the proposed updated statement on testing of sight and proposed supervision and delegation standards.
The GOC’s findings indicate strong patient satisfaction with eye care services but identifies that registrants have concerns that commercial pressures could potentially impact their ability to deliver the best possible care to patients, as well as affecting their wellbeing.
This Halloween we're urging the public to think about their eye health.