Independent prescribing (IP) optometrists in Belfast will treat patients redirected from eye casualty to primary care under a new pilot.
AOP Councillor and Optometry Northern Ireland vice chair, Brian McKeown, told OT that conditions managed through the scheme would include foreign body removal, iritis, marginal keratitis and viral keratitis.
The pilot, which involves 12 IP optometrists in Belfast, will be audited after a 12-week period.
There are currently 40 IP optometrists in Northern Ireland, with more currently undertaking training for the qualification.
Optometry Northern Ireland chair, Jill Campbell, highlighted that the pilot enables patients to be treated within the community.
“We would like a successful outcome from the pilot and for it to be rolled out across Northern Ireland,” she said.
It is anticipated that three to four patients will be redirected from eye casualty every day under the initiative.
AOP Councillor and Optometry Northern Ireland vice chair, Brian McKeown, told OT that conditions managed through the scheme would include foreign body removal, iritis, marginal keratitis and viral keratitis.
The pilot, which involves 12 IP optometrists in Belfast, will be audited after a 12-week period.
There are currently 40 IP optometrists in Northern Ireland, with more currently undertaking training for the qualification.
Optometry Northern Ireland chair, Jill Campbell, highlighted that the pilot enables patients to be treated within the community.
“We would like a successful outcome from the pilot and for it to be rolled out across Northern Ireland,” she said.
It is anticipated that three to four patients will be redirected from eye casualty every day under the initiative.
Comments (1)
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Dave C19 November 2022
Sounds like a week designed scheme. Good that there is pre-defined scope - which can be broadened if scheme is successful. Also favourable that care is allocated via a central triage, so that there is a paper trail & alternative care of optoms have no capacity - from experience, these patients are not spread uniformly by time or geography! Preferable to direct referral within primary care as this can lead to IP optoms seeing ALL the low level eye disease which should be managed at entry level.
At the upper end of volume estimate, the IPs will be seeing scheme patient every 3 working days. This means it is manageable without disrupting core activities, but hardly a money spinner!
Questions:
What are the fees?
Is 12 weeks enough?
Are there management protocols for each condition?
Has further accreditation / learning beyond IP been necessary?
Is further
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