Hospital to Community: eye care
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Hospital to Community: identifying the value of optometrists monitoring & managing chronic sight threatening eye disease in primary care.
IRAS ID
304550
Contact name
Barbara Ryan
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Aneurin Bevan University Health Board
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
CRD42021260517, PROSPERO Realist Review
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 11 months, 30 days
Research summary
Neovascular age related macular degeneration (nAMD) & glaucoma are eye diseases that cause sight loss if not treated early & regularly. As health services in hospitals that provide care to people with these eye diseases are under so much pressure, many with these diseases, are not seen at the hospital when they should be. This means that they may lose some of their sight.
It is possible to provide care for some people using optometrists who have extra training. These enhanced optometric services (EOS) can be provided in practices more local to a person’s home.
Changing to EOS may reduce waiting times for hospitals but must also have patient benefits and must be good value for money. The research will weigh up the benefits of providing different types of EOS against care received only in hospital. We will also find out if this change reduces the carbon footprint.
The researchers will do interviews with people from the hospital services, patients, the managers of the services and the optometrists to be able to understand the experiences & options. To find out if providing EOS is value for money, we will use a method known as economic modelling; this type of research uses maths to understand the way the changes might affect the use of NHS staff & funds & how changes benefit patients. The researchers will consult a panel of people involved in receiving or delivering care to make sure the work is relevant. The research should tell us what matters to the people who have nAMD & glaucoma and those involved in care & services for these people. We will also ensure that what we learn from this research can be applied to other services giving care for other eye diseases.REC name
North East - Newcastle & North Tyneside 1 Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
22/NE/0034
Date of REC Opinion
17 Mar 2022
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion