OOs link up in 'world first' for patient choice

A group of practitioners in the north west is involved in what is being claimed as a 'world's first' patient choice scheme.

An estimated 12,000 diabetes sufferers in Lancashire are expected to benefit from a 12-month-long screening programme which can electronically transfer patient information between opticians, hospitals and a screening administration centre within PCTs.

It is expected that the scheme will allow patients to choose between attending a hospital eye clinic or their local accredited opticians, and will also help to speed up the referral process.

The programme uses software supplied by Cambridge-based Digital Healthcare. The software technology, OptoMize iP, combines digital images of the retina with an electronic patient administration system, to transfer results between computers.

Patients can choose to be screened by an accredited optometrist or at a hospital.

Involved are Preston and Chorley & South Ribble Primary Care Trusts, the Royal Preston Hospital and Chorley District Hospital, as well as 17 optical practices.

Janet Ashcroft, health improvement manager at Preston PCT, said: 'The screening administration staff can check patients' progress through the system, and can automatically generate reports to patients and GPs, or referrals to ophthalmology clinics.'

'We are delighted to have achieved a world first by successfully telemessaging patient information between the primary and secondary healthcare systems,' said Digital Healthcare managing director Rob Stichbury.