Comment: The New UK NHS and Independent Sector Partnership

The new NHS and independent sector partnership – which will see the NHS make “better use of the independent sector to tackle waiting lists” and help “expand capacity and widen patient choice” – is a move that we welcome at CHEC, and something we’ve been hoping would come to fruition for a long time. There is extraordinarily high – and continually growing – demand for quality eye care in the UK. Now is the time to secure the long-term delivery of eyecare using a truly integrated model with all stakeholders contributing to care delivery.

Independent ophthalmology providers offer an alternative route to care, unlocking additional capacity and resources. This alleviates pressure on NHS services and increases equity of access to care across all communities. Furthermore, collaboration between sectors presents a unique opportunity to improve knowledge sharing and skill building, meaning that together we’ll create an overall higher standard of care – something that has the potential to be world leading, as the UK is likely to be the only eyecare sector able to deliver this integrated approach.

Not only can independent providers help by offering common services like cataract and glaucoma surgeries, but many – like CHEC – offer specialist solutions for complex issues, such as vitreoretinal surgery and minimally invasive glaucoma surgery (MIGS). By partnering with providers who offer this breadth of services, the NHS can create a national network of resources that not only works to support NHS hospitals, but also continues to deliver high standards of care. CHEC has been proud to partner with the NHS for over 12 years, consistently meeting our target of providing treatment for ophthalmology services within four weeks of referral, and we hope to act as an example of best practice as the new partnership gains momentum.

However, to make the most of this partnership, optometrists, GPs, and other referrers need to have a complete knowledge of all providers in their area, including the NHS trusts and independent providers, together with an understanding of how each could best cater for different patients’ individual needs so they can make informed decisions. Everyone in the optometry profession, as a trusted patient advocate, has a role to play to get the most potential out of patient choice, and only an industry-wide collaborative effort, which puts patient needs first, will result in the best outcomes.

Ultimately, we want to achieve a successful partnership that ensures equity of access and short referral to treatment times for all ophthalmology services. We know timely treatment reduces the potential for complications not only associated with eye conditions, but also other difficulties that come with poor eyesight, such as trips and falls, negative mental health, and mobility issues. The system has to change to a solution fit for the future of healthcare, and the partnership agreement is a big step in shaping an improved integrated healthcare system.