A country-wide roll out of NHS England’s (NHSE) Special Schools Eye Care Service (SSECS) to all children in special schools has received universal praise from the optical profession following a lengthy evaluation.
Approximately 165,000 children will benefit from the SSECS when it launches in 2024, following a successful trial in 80 special schools, which concluded in 2022. The service used in the schools was developed by learning disability, autism and sight loss charity SeeAbility, which described NHSE’s announcement as ‘life-changing and sight-saving.’
SSECS was set up in 2021 using SeeAbility’s model of care and research evidence of high levels of unmet need from previous special school eye care services. It offered special schools with a visiting ‘one-stop shop’ of sight testing and eyewear dispensing, along with a report for parents and teachers.
The organisation said for many children with learning disabilities, the service offered a first chance to build familiarity with NHS eye care and have sight issues treated, with parents reporting children had struggled to cope with appointments in the community or hospital, adjusting to wearing glasses.
Uncertainty
The announcement followed a period of uncertainty as to the overall provision of eye care to children with special needs going forward. Contractors participating in the trial phase were told that contracts would expire on March 31, 2023, a date that was later extended to August 1, 2023, but there had been no further clarification from NHSE.
Under Secretary of State for Primary Care and Public Health, Neil O’Brien MP, said: ‘I am pleased we will be able to support sight testing for all pupils in special schools, an environment where they feel more comfortable.
‘We have worked closely with NHS England, stakeholders and charities to extend this important service and thousands of pupils will benefit as a result.
‘It’s vital for all children to have access to NHS sight tests and I’m grateful to all those who helped make this possible.
‘Backed by a more than £10m investment, the extension is expected to help up to an estimated 165,000 more children and will begin from 2024/25.’
SeeAbility CEO Lisa Hopkins added: ‘Thank you to everyone who has held firm for this model of care during a period of uncertainty. It’s a significant and wonderful step forward in improving eye care for people with learning disabilities. It is no exaggeration to say sight will be saved and lives will be transformed.’
A mother of a child cared for as part of the scheme said: ‘My son has had life-changing support. Now, he has his glasses he can continue to make progress across all areas in his learning and life. Without SeeAbility, my son would not be wearing glasses as a high street optician would not be able to meet his needs. You have literally changed my son’s life.’
Q&A: SeeAbility CEO Lisa Hopkins
Optician: How realistic was the prospect of SSECS trial not being extended?
LH: Despite initial original statements from NHSE that the service would be rolled out to all special schools from April 2021, schools, parents and providers (40 optometrists and 33 dispensing opticians) were very uncertain as to future security of the service, despite how well it was received and the big difference it has made for so many children.
All contractors were told in December 2022 that they would be served three months’ notice on their existing contracts in March 2023, with all services ending in July 2023 and a new model for residential schools being commissioned from September, despite just three of the 83 schools receiving the service classified as residential.
Optician: How would a loss of service been felt by children and parents?
LH: Losing the existing service would have been a huge blow and resulted in up to 80% of the children being seen by the service needing to be referred to hospital eye services to ensure continuity of care.
NHSE invested significantly in training the clinicians who are now highly skilled in providing eye care for this patient group. We are excited this specialism can be built upon and not lost and look forward to the service reaching the 90%+ of children who attend special schools it is yet to reach.
Parents have responded overwhelmingly positively to the service. Our recent parent satisfaction survey told us that 98% of parents were happy with the service and 93% of parents agreed that they understood more about their child’s vision after receiving the written report from their assessment.
