Objectives, Actions and Timelines.
[ Contents | Intro. | Outcome 1. | Outcome 2. | Outcome 3. | Appendix ]
Outcome 1: Improving the Eye Health of people in Wales
1.1 Objective: To increase the number of people having a regular eye health check.
Action Plan:
Benchmark existing uptake of General Ophthalmic Service (GOS) and Welsh Eye Care Imitative (WECI) examination and establish Eye Health Promotion Task and Finish Group. Timescale: Annual benchmark and activity plan report to Wales Vision Strategy Advisory Group (WVSAG)
Eye health becomes a public health priority. Health Board promotion teams deliver effective eye health promotion. Timescale 2011
National Eye Health Promotion Campaign to include promotion of General Ophthalmic Services (GOS), Primary Eyecare Acute Referral Scheme (PEARS), Welsh Eye Health Examination (WEHE) and low vision services. Timescale 2011.
Eye Health becomes an integral part of primary health services, including the adoption of eye health as a long term condition within the primary care agenda. Timescale 2013
Eye health statistics and demographics data become an integral part of NHS Annual Operating Framework and health and well being strategies Timescale 2013
1.2. Objective: Establish an all Wales eye health programme for children.
Action Plan:
Establish Task and Finish group with representation from all agencies involved in children's eye health; benchmark current provision and make recommendations to Minister Timescale Completed April 2012
1.3. Objective: Targeted work streams to increase the availability and uptake of eye health checks and hospital eye service for communities most at risk of eye disease and sight loss. (including ethnic minority, older people, low income, people with additional disabilities and people in long term care)
Action plan:
Review barriers to uptake of GOS and WEHE for eligible high risk groups. Timescale August 2011.
Review of barriers to hospital eye service for target group. Timescale August 2011.
Two pilots established in hospital eye service. Timescale December 2011.
Evaluation of pilots published and recommendations implemented. Timescale September 2012.
1.4. Objective: Increase uptake of community eye care services (including GOS and WECI) and voluntary sector services
Action Plan:
To develop and implement a health promotion plan of WECI schemes including to GPs and high risk groups. Timescale 2013.
Work in partnership with advisory group members and statutory and voluntary sector stakeholders to maximise opportunities to promote schemes. Timescale - Promotion 2011, further activity identified for 2012. Mainstreamed by Welsh Assembly Government by 2014.
1.5. Objective: GPs routinely remind patients to have an eye health check.
Action Plan:
To ensure that eye health guidance is integrated into primary care pathways (including Map of Medicine pathways). Timescale 2012.
1.6. Objective: Increase of eye health checks and low vision services to children and adults with a learning disability.
Action Plan:
Targeted work stream to increase expertise and take up of services for people with learning disabilities. Timescale 2012.
Establish evidence base, make recommendations and implement services to ensure children in specialist schools have access to appropriate eye health checks/screening. Timescale 2012.
GPs undertaking annual health checks routinely remind patients of eye health checks. Timescale 2013.
1.7. Objective: Pilot study to assess the number of people who have a fall as a result of uncorrected vision or eye disease.
Action Plan:
Study undertaken in Rhondda Cynon Taff. Timescale 2010.
Report and recommendations presented to Wales Vision Strategy Advisory Group and minister. Timescale 2011.
1.8. Objective: To ensure effective patient pathways between Low Vision Schemes and other health and social care providers.
Action Plan: Map of pathways produced with recommendations and implementation plan. Timescale 2012.
1.9. Objective: To recognise and implement best practice in access and communication within the NHS (primary and secondary care).
Action plan: Work in partnership with Health Inspectorate Wales to ensure best practice in relation to access to services for people with sensory loss. Timescale 2011.
1.10. Objective: Sharing best practice to improve access for Glaucoma patients.
Action Plan:
Develop new business case to support role out of shared care pathway for Glaucoma patients. Timescale April 2010.
Ensure a robust evaluation of new care pathways and disseminate the findings. Timescale June 2012.
To implement a Glaucoma referral refinement plan as part of Welsh Eye Health Examination (WEHE). Timescale 2012.
1.11. Objective: Increase the number of people with eye disease being monitored and treated in primary care to free up capacity within the hospital eye clinic.
Action Plan:
Development and implementation of shared care pathways for main eye conditions to maximise patient outcomes and modernise eye care pathways in partnership with National Leadership and Innovation Agency for Health (NLIAH), NHS Trusts and primary care partners. Pathways mainstreamed in statutory sector including Map of Medicine.
To ensure high quality evaluation is an integral part of all new pathways. Timescale 2012.
1.12. Objective: Ensure timely access to new sight saving treatments (approved by NICE, AWMSG etc.).
Action Plan:
Advisory Group to be kept informed of new treatments and work in partnership with NHS, AWMSG, primary care and officials to ensure timely/appropriate provision of treatments. Timescale Annual review by WVSAG.
1.13. Objective: Improving community access to eye care by training primary care practitioners in eye care / health e.g. pharmacist and GPs.
Action Plan:
Task and Finish Group established to make recommendations. Timescale Initial 12 months report followed by 12 monthly update.