Clinical Council for Eye Health Commissioning (CCEHC) voiced concerns over delays in progress on a Special School Eye Care Service (SSECS), commissioned by NHS England.
CCEHC wrote a letter to NHS England urging them to continue the evaluation process and subsequent commissioning of the NHS England Special School Eye Care Service, which has been in development as a long-term solution for children with special needs.
The advisory body added: ‘In addition, we also consider that any potential restriction of such a service to purely residential schools would be a denial of service to children with identical needs but different social circumstances, notwithstanding the goals set out in the NHS Long Term Plan.’
CCEHC also asked for the SSECS to adapt care to individual children and prevent children from being forced to be seen by the Hospital Eye Service in a secondary care setting.