PRIMARY EYE CARE “unable to support” government’s new IT system without additional funding

The body representing primary eye care providers has warned that without a commitment to additional funding to cover the cost to practices, a new IT system announced by the Government will be “doomed to fail.”

This follows the Government’s announcement (8 June) of the planned roll-out of a national Electronic Referral Service (ERS) for eye care and access to the National Care Records Service (NCRS), designed to help the public benefit from eye care on the high street.

In a statement responding to the Government’s announcement that £20m will be invested to improve optometrists’ access to NHS digital systems, the Optometric Fees Negotiating Committee (OFNC) highlighted its frustration that the planned approach to implementation did not offer a credible plan or appropriate investment for delivery.

Dr Peter Hampson, OFNC Chair said: “The announcement of the introduction of IT connectivity, for which we have long campaigned, should be a time for celebration. However, as we have already warned Ministers and senior officials, primary eye care practices are underfunded, stretched beyond snapping point and cannot take on any more unfunded work. 

“The announcement of £20m, spread over several years, is clearly not a fully costed plan for a national roll-out in England. Nearly all of this will go to the NHS or associated bodies and there is nothing at all to pay for the additional clinical and administrative burdens being imposed on practices.

“Much though we would want this initiative to succeed, unless there is a clear strategy and appropriate funding to support the work done in primary eye care, this initiative will be doomed to fail.”     