Referral system offers income boost for OOs

A secure electronic system to enable optometrists to receive additional funding for referrals has been created by software and service providers Accipiter and Ocuco.

According to Peter Price-Taylor, Accipiter's chief executive, this is the first such system for the industry as a result of optometry being excluded from the NHS network.

'What we've done is created a network for them in partnership with Ocuco,' he told Optician.

He said that Accipter provided the infrastructure for local optical committees to establish a trading company which contracted with the PCT in their area to provide referral management. Health professionals such as GPs and optometrists and school nurses would all send eye case referrals through a referral management centre, which determined whether the patient should attend the hospital or be dealt with in the community by a professional such as an optometrist with a special interest.