Ophthalmic Care in the Community and Postgraduate Medical Training

Commissioning bodies in the United Kingdom are being encouraged to consider moving some elements of ophthalmic care, which currently occur within the Hospital Eye Service, into the primary care setting. If medically led and properly delivered, the College supports this change where it is in the best interest of patients.

Postgraduate medical training in Ophthalmology is a very important component of the provision of the Hospital Eye Service. If a shift of some parts of ophthalmic care from the Hospital Eye Service to the primary care setting is being considered in your locality the continued integrated provision of postgraduate medical training in ophthalmology must be a key essential component of any proposal.

Strategic Health Authorities (SHAs), Primary Care Trusts (PCTs), the relevant commissioners in the Devolved Administrations, Trusts and Deaneries should all work closely together to ensure that any plan to move a significant portion of ophthalmic care into the primary care setting is accompanied by detailed plans for the continued delivery of postgraduate medical training in ophthalmology in order that it is not adversely affected by any change in the pattern of service provision. We would encourage Deaneries, including Programme Directors and Regional Advisers, to be alert to any such proposals in their area.

Lord Darzi's recently published NHS Next Stage Review document, a "High Quality Workforce" states that "The delivery of high quality education and training is an essential part of delivering high quality patient care". The College completely agrees with this sentiment and would therefore be very concerned about any proposals that had not considered and addressed (in cooperation with the Stakeholders mentioned above) any potential impact on the delivery of postgraduate medical training in Ophthalmology.

Officers' letter available in PDF format here

Page updated 2 October 2008 (SG)