Enhanced Services
The AOP has created and collated information to help optometrists who wish to expand the scope of their profession through the provision of enhanced services. You will find much to interest you on this page but also look in the menu section on the left of the page to see which particular area you are interested in and click on the links to access more information. Please note that we do not list all the information we have on enhanced care as this data can change quite quickly. If you want additional information please email :
Head of Professional Services, Patricia O'Sullivan patriciaosullivan@aop.org.uk
Professional Adviser, Geoff Roberson geoffroberson@aop.org.uk
NOTE in particular what we have to say about entering details of your schemes/enhanced services on the Primary Care Contracting website (details below).
Primary Care Contracting
The NHS Primary Care Contracting (PCC) was set up to assist the development of new local contracting arrangements in primary care in England and increasingly are asked to provide support on a wider range of issues relating to NHS commissioning. It has a network of expert advisors, underpinned by their website, newsletter, helpdesks and event management functions to support commissioners across a wide range of PCT functions. The PCC works closely with DH policy makers and its advisors also work with local PCT and SHA networks to communicate and facilitate change and good practice. From April 2008, it will move from being nationally funded to being supported by PCT subscriptions.
The PCC website lists details of a selection of enhanced services in operation throughout the country. Individual LOCs who have successfully negotiated enhanced services can access this website and enter the details of these services using the template provided. The more information placed on the PCC website - which is designed to provided information to healthcare commissioners - the more primary care organisations will be aware of the skills and expertise which optometrists can offer. We would urge all LOCs to make use of this facility. This website is regularly visited by primary care organisations (PCOs) e.g. PCTs and evidence of your schemes may help to encourage those PCOs who have not engaged with local optometry, to do so. The AOP shares information of enhanced services with LOCs and individuals, on request, but having details of schemes on a website frequented by commissioners, will definitely help to promote the use of optometrists in the provision of a wider range of eye care services.
The Primary Care Contracting website hosts the latest commissioning guidance from the Department of Health to PCTs and healthcare commissioners with regard to eye care services. This advice is also covered on our website
General Optical Council's Core Competencies
If you wish to view theGOC's core competencies for optometrists and dispensing opticians click here;
Primary Eye Care in England - A Vision for the Future
This booklet, outlining a clear way forward for NHS primary care services in England, was jointly produced by the Association of Optometrists, the Association of British Dispensing Opticians, the College of Optometrists and the Federation of Ophthalmic and Dispensing Opticians in October 2005. It argues, amongst other things, for a higher profile for eye health, regular eye examinations and good eye care as part of the public health agenda. It also sets out the opportunities for optical practices to provide a wider range of primary eye care services int he community.
Developing a New Partnership Contract for Community Eye Care in England
This document was produced by Nick Bosanquet, Professor of Health Policy at Imperial College London, in February 2006. It sets out the options for partnership between optometrists/dispensing opticians and the NHS and can be viewed as a pdf at the bottom of this page.
Primary Care Resource Pack
The AOP's Primary Care Resource Pack, issued in 2002, proved to be an invaluable resource for practitioners involved in the design and implementation of enhanced care. Indeed, a good deal of the information is still relevant today and some is replicated in this section of the website. If you are interested in receiving a copy of the Resource Pack please email patriciaosullivan@aop.org.uk
AOP Primary Care Toolkit
In response to the new NHS payment system 'Payment by Results' and the national tariff of secondary care fees and charges, the AOP commissioned a toolkit to help practitioners develop business cases for primary care services. It was launched at the National Optometric Conference (October 2005) and it contains spreadsheets and calculation tools to help you cost your services on an accompanying CDROM. You can obtain a copy from patriciaosullivan@aop.org.uk or click here to access details.
Primary Eye Care in the Community
This booklet was produced by the AOP in December 2001. Whilst some aspects are now out of date e.g. information on diabetic retinopathy screening, descriptions of primary care organisations etc., it is still a very useful summary of what skills optometrists can bring to the community. It was written with healthcare commissioners in mind and many of you will still find most of the content highly relevant. You can access it in pdf format at the end of this page.
Transparency in Co-management Contracts
The Association of Optometrists, the College of Optometrists and the Federation of Ophthalmic and Dispensing Opticians issued joint advice in December 2004 for LOCs/AOCs and primary care organisations on how co-management contracts can be made more transparent, thus facilitating agreements which have the full support of the local profession. This would help to avoid any misleading impressions of claimed superiority, should schemes be limited to specific practices. The advice can be found in pdf format at the end of this page.
