Optometry 'can play key role under new commissioning structures'

Optometrists are in an ideal position to benefit from the creation of autonomous General Practitioner Federations when they come into effect next April.

Rachel Helm, Director of Hum UK, which supports the Heidelberg Engineering Academy as a business partner, said by providing support services beyond clinical education such as marketing, financial and patient journey planning advice, the Academy offered the means of integrating OCT into practice.

Helm, who is an expert at integrating services into the NHS across a range of disciplines said: ‘Commissioning is moving to health outcomes and it is really going to pay dividends for providers to show that they can offer this service. There is a massive opportunity for optometrists to integrate clinical pathways, particularly for the provision of glaucoma and AMD care,’ she said.