The Optometry Excellence Programme aims to support practices in need, as well as supporting the strive towards excellence by implementing successful quality improvement initiatives.
The programme consists of four workstreams with various programmes and activity which are being rolled out in a phased way, with some already in the delivery stage, others due to start soon and some in the scoping stage.
Rescue and resilience
Aims to support optometry practices through health and wellbeing initiatives including, but not limited to:
- Creation of a health and wellbeing resource library
- Planned engagement events
- Improvements to the collection and management of data
Optometry Referrals Improvement Programme
Aims to enhance the quality of optometry referrals, address health inequalities and improve the adoption and use of digital referrals by:
- Analysis of referrals across Greater Manchester at practice, locality and Greater Manchester level
- Education and training programmes
- Practitioner level support where required
Digital enablement support:
- Supporting practices to engage with the EeRS Opera system
- Supporting engagement with hospital eye services to ensure effective use of referral processes
- Supporting practices to use images and scans gathered through specific practice technology and share using the EeRS Opera system
Practical support
Aims to support optometry practices engaged with the elective reform and recovery pathways by:
Glaucoma network:
- Bringing together practitioners across Greater Manchester with higher qualifications in glaucoma and engaged in enhanced glaucoma care to support peer discussion, development and quality improvement
Independent prescribers’ network:
- Bringing together independent prescribers across Greater Manchester delivering care through the urgent eye care services to support peer discussion, development and quality improvement
Sustainability in optometry practice
Aims to review and evaluate to long-term sustainability of optometry through green and financial sustainability
Green sustainability:
- Provide up to date information, research and resources around green sustainability on the PCB website
- Investigate care closer to home and the use of telemedicine
Financial sustainability:
- Evaluate the impact of financial pressures on the long-term sustainability of optometry
- Provide solutions to ensure a financially viable future for optometry and equality of access for all citizens of Manchester
