Digital connectivity in eye care will save sight and help prevent sight loss. It will also reduce duplication of diagnostic tests and associated costs for the NHS. To deliver these benefits, we will work with the NHS and sector partners to secure a standardised national IT system connecting primary eye care, GPs and hospital eye departments. 

Context 

There is no national, consistent and secure NHS system which allows for frictionless connectivity and transmission of patient information between optical practices and hospital eye services. This results in delays in care, unnecessary duplication and increased risk. It also acts as a major barrier to bringing more eye care closer to home for the benefit of patients, the NHS and the environment. 

Opportunity 

A standardised national IT system connecting primary eye care, GPs and hospital eye departments - and eventually social services departments - will ensure the safe, secure and speedy transfer of patient information. This, in turn, will lead to better health outcomes for individuals and populations and improved patient satisfaction for all.  

It will also liberate GPs' and ophthalmologists' time as they will be up to date on patients' eye health but freed up to focus on the areas of care they specialise in.  

We are calling for:  

• NHS e-Referral Service (e-RS) for all primary eye care practices.
• NHS assistance with adaptation of equipment, software and NHS networks to enable diagnostic data and images to be shared securely in appropriate (DICOM standard) formats.

• Referral pathways agreed between primary and secondary care, ensuring end-to-end use of digital technology for the benefit of patients and the NHS.

What we will do 

As set out in Principles and priorities for primary eye care, we will work with our members, sector partners and NHS bodies to: 

• Provide IT development and support to ensure patients benefit from joined-up, seamless systems and technology.

• Support the implementation of common technical IT standards that maximise health benefits while minimising overhead costs for providers and the NHS.

Delivering an integrated digital connectivity ecosystem will take time to deliver, so FODO will also continue to support primary eye care with interim measures, like the use of NHS Mail, while we work to make change happen.  

June 2024