Agenda item

Further to Minute 32, 20 October 2016, Sharron Morrow, Chief Operating Officer, Barking and Dagenham CCG, reminded the Board that the review had been undertaken in response to concerns that people may have experienced difficulties in obtaining care and as a result would miss treatment that could prevent sight loss.  Key findings had included the lack of assurance that all those who should have had a sight test do get one, the current arrangements were too complex for patients to understand and the treatment pathway did not promote choice and control by the patients.

Sharon drew the Board’s attention to an number of issues, including:

·  Diabetic retinal screening had been reviewed and re-specified and there was now a new London wide model which had been put in the new NHS contracts in November 2015.

·  A partnership Vision Strategy Group had been set up by LBBD and this had now met three times.

·  Joint procurement process for community based eye services for the management of minor conditions, cataracts and glaucoma had been concluded in March 2016 however, it had not been possible to award a contract as a suitable provider could not be selected. 

·  The ophthalmology pathway review was now being taken forward in the context of the RTT programme across BHR CCGs and BHRUT, as ophthalmology had been identified as one of the top ten specialities needing further work and sustainability. 

·  Each CCG was leading on three pathway reviews.

·  For stable glaucoma patients a new pathway with community services would be implemented by December 2016, which in turn would increase capacity for secondary care for patients with complex glaucoma.

·  Service users via the Bridge to Vision (B2V) had increased and so far 107 had been seen this year.

·  The commissioning of an “Eye Care Liaison Officer” recommended in Recommendation three of the review had not yet been progressed.

·  Recommendation four of the review had asked for consideration improvements to local low vision services at King George’s and Queens Hospitals.  This had been investigated and as those improvement required a small amount of funding this had been progressed. 

·  The Magnifier Lighting Workshop had now seen 300 clients and over 50 referrals had been made.  The sensory staff were now promoting the service in the local mosques.

·  Recommendation five was for a local communication campaign on the importance of having an eye test.  The background work to the campaign had been undertaken and the Campaign was due to run in September.

·  Recommendation six was to make every contact count with children.  Current performance reports suggested a 66% achievement rate and the lack of parental consent was the main factor to be overcome.

The Board raised concerns about this very low sight test rate and the impact on other health checks undertaken on children.  Sharon indicated that it may be necessary to undertake further investigation on the data accuracy and Matthew Cole advised he would arrange for the data to be triangulated to see if it was the same children missing all checks or some children attending for some check but not others.

The Board:

(i)  In view of the very low test rate achieved, requested the Barking and Dagenham Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) Chief Operating Officer, to check if there were any potential data inaccuracy and report back in due course; and

(ii)  Asked the Director of Public Health to check and report back in due course as to whether those children not having eye tests were also missing the hearing / general health check.