Glaucoma follow-up

The East Devon PCT bid was given the go-ahead in May 2004 to pilot a glaucoma follow-up scheme within a rural area, with particular emphasis on a mobile option. Nicky Lavender describes the issues particular to the East Devon pilot and describes how the project has developed

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At the request of the Department of Health two proposals were developed within the health community, one led by East Devon PCT in partnership with the optical adviser and local optical committee and the other by the West of England Eye Unit (WEEU) within the Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Foundation Trust in partnership with the three PCTs.

The East Devon PCT proposal included the innovative option of a mobile solution for patients who could not access the hospital eye service (HES) or the community option. The WEEU proposal had a wider scope as it was across all three PCTs that support the HES to move glaucoma follow-up patients from the HES to the community.

When all parties found that there had been duplication, all agreed to support the successful proposal as the PCT executives and clinicians were enthusiastic.

The East Devon proposal was successful with the proviso that the funding for the mobile solution was ring-fenced until a detailed 'scoping exercise' had been undertaken to assess the need and value for money for this solution, and an option appraisal paper prepared for review by the Department of Health.

Project aims

The aims of the pilot were to move so-called 'stable' glaucoma follow-up patients from hospital care to the community, under the care of appropriately skilled professionals, which in our case were community optometrists. This would, we hoped, provide the following: