Study shows eye care in local clinics cuts patient wait times and optimises NHS resources
A new study has revealed that managing eye conditions through enhanced optometric services at local optometrists, rather than relying solely on hospital eye services (HES), can significantly reduce patient wait times and lower costs for the NHS.
Researchers found that integrating optometrists based, in community optician practice settings to handle conditions like neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) and glaucoma brings substantial benefits.
The study, published in Ophthalmic and Physiological Optics , demonstrates that enhanced optometry services in local optician clinics can deliver the same quality of care as hospital eye services, while providing additional advantages for both patients and the NHS.
Key findings from the study show:
The study was led by Professor Barbara Ryan from Aneurin Bevan University Health Board and Cardiff University, in collaboration with a multidisciplinary team from Swansea University, the University of South Wales, and Sight Cymru. The research was funded by Health and Care Research Wales.
The research initially focused on three health boards in Wales, and the service has since been rolled out across the entire country.
Lead researcher Professor Barbara Ryan of Aneurin Bevan University Health Board said: “Currently patients are at risk of losing their sight because of delays waiting for hospital eye appointments. These research findings give hope that there is a solution on every local high street.”
Dr Mari Jones of Swansea University’s Centre for Health Economics added: “This project has shown that empowering local optometrists in local optician practices to manage conditions like neovascular age-related macular degeneration and glaucoma can drastically reduce patient wait times and costs without compromising on quality of care. By shifting eye care into community settings, they have shown that patients can receive timely, expert care close to home, while hospital specialists focus on complex cases. This model not only enhances patient outcomes but also optimizes resources across the NHS.”
Ophthalmic and Physiological Optics
Computational simulation/modeling
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10-Oct-2024
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