Optometrists should just say no to data requests from hospitals if the same hospitals refuse to engage in community eye services, delegates at the National optometric Conference were told last week.
This year’s NOC was dominated by talk of data collection, IT and monitoring, and included a presentation on the National Ophthalmology Audit presented by clinical lead at the Royal College of Ophthalmologists, Professor John Sparrow. The audit aims to collect data on outcomes from the 300,000 cataract surgeries that take place on the NHS each year so they can be made available to the public.
Co-presenter Wendy Newsom, lead optometrist Moorfields Bedford, said a web portal had been created for practices to contribute.
She described a scheme that saw optical practices provide data, such as best corrected acuity following surgery, in areas where optometrists are managing the patient follow-up in the community. ‘This is a huge opportunity for LOCs, because all follow-up could be done in community opticians.’
A delegate said in her area hospitals were pressurising practices to supply data as part of the GOS contract and no community scheme was in place. Repeating that she felt this was a great opportunity, Newsom added: ‘You should say, “no, we won’t do this as part of the GOS contract”.’
Professor Sparrow said practices should work with secondary care in every sensible way possible. ‘If you believe a point-blank refusal is best, then do so.’ He suggested a more flexible approach was better and that data was being collected for the benefit of the patient.
Another delegate asked if it was mandatory for cataract data to be supplied by the hospitals. Prof. Sparrow said it was not. ‘Pressure will be brought to bear, but it can’t be forced on any trust or any surgeon.’
