Louisa Wickham backs the Eye Care Support Pathway

Louisa Wickham, consultant ophthalmic surgeon at Moorfields Eye Hospital and the national clinical director for eyecare, has voiced her support for the Eye Care Support Pathway, a framework developed by the Royal National Institute of Blind People and partners across the sector. 

The pathway “represents a significant advancement in our ongoing efforts to enhance eye care services across England,” Wickham said.

In an open letter to the eye health workforce, Wickham called on stakeholders to “support and, where possible, adopt this pathway.”

She emphasised that, as a practising clinician, she has seen the need for patients to receive support during their eye care journey first-hand.

The pathway “addresses this need head on,” Wickham said.

She noted that it provides “essential, comprehensive support” at four stages of a patient’s journey: initial appointment, diagnosis confirmation, during post-diagnosis support, and when they are living with the condition.

The pathway was introduced in November 2023, and received support from across the profession. It aims for patients to actively participate in, and take control of, their eye care journey.

“By integrating non-clinical support into existing eye care pathways, we can ensure that patients receive not just medical treatment but also the support and guidance they need at every step,” Wickham said.

She emphasised that the creation of the pathway came about after extensive collaboration between health and social care professionals, individuals with lived experience of eye care services and sight loss, and the third sector, as well as professional bodies across the eye care sector.

“The insights and contributions from these diverse perspectives have been invaluable in shaping a pathway that is both practical and empathetic,” Wickham believes.

The work undertaken was “vital,” she added.

Aside from immediate patient need, the pathway could also lead to long-term improvements in eye care delivery, Wickham wrote.

Positive impact could also be felt in terms of mental health support, fall prevention, and employment, benefiting both individuals and the UK economy, she said.

The letter was addressed to regional eye health leads, eye health leads at all NHS trusts, and integrated care board eye health leads, alongside regional medical directors and regional elective care leads. It was published on the NHS England website.