Quality standards in primary care ophthalmology

The College does not currently make any specific recommendations for supporting information in primary care ophthalmology that should be provided for appraisal. However, the following topics for audit may be appropriate:

• Perceptions by patients and carers of the quality of care provided by the primary care ophthalmology service
• Outcomes of referrals to the hospital eye service or sub-specialty services

If the primary care ophthalmology service uses an electronic clinical record or an keeps an electronic summary of patient encounters which includes a diagnosis, it is possible to audit patterns of referral and outcomes of treatment much more effectively than if the service relies entirely on paper records.

Whether the service uses paper or electronic records, periodic audit of the standards of record keeping in the service is advisable.