Optegra announces PES partnership

UK eye hospital group Optegra has today (28 February) announced a partnership with Primary Eyecare Services (PES) that will enable all accredited optometrists to refer cataract patients to Optegra.

Each practice referring to the eye hospital will receive a fixed fee, with the agreement stating that the patient will return to the community provider for their follow-up and ongoing care. The fee will be processed when the patient returns for their post-operative review following surgery.

The partnership is supported by the Local Optical Committee Support Unit.

Speaking about the agreement, chief executive of Optegra, Dr Peter Byloos (pictured), explained: “There are advantages for all parties involved in this new agreement. We will hope to increase the number of community optometrists that we work with around our seven UK hospitals, so even more patients can benefit from their excellent and timely care. While the optometrists will have reassurance that their patient will return to them for their ongoing visual checks and requirements.” 

The agreement applies to Optegra’s facilities based in London, Manchester, Birmingham, Yorkshire, Hampshire and Guildford. It means that the majority of patients who are referred through the partnership have their follow-up check at their local opticians, with Optegra providing continued care for any complicated cases.

Chief officer of PES, Dharmesh Patel, said: “PES is pleased to be entering the agreement with Optegra as it will enable optical practices to offer effective cataract post-operative care in a timely manner to patients in the community. It will also provide an opportunity to redesign local services with primary care being central to that care model.”