November 2014
Swindon Glaucoma Ocular Hypertension (OHT) Monitoring Scheme
The purpose of this scheme is to move appropriate, diagnosed patients out of secondary care for monitoring by community optometrists. Patients will receive ongoing follow up appointments at
appropriate intervals (as specified by NICE guidance).
The patient eligibility criteria are patients registered with a GP practice in contract with NHS Swindon Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG). Therefore, in addition to Swindon optometrists, those
outside the Swindon area are able to monitor patients who meet this criteria.
Appropriate patients will be identified by the secondary care provider and provided with a Care Plan, Return Slip, patient leaflet and a list of accredited optometrists for OHT Monitoring. The
patient must register with an accredited optometrist, who is then responsible for ensuring the patient attends ongoing monitoring appointments. Optometrists must only provide OHT monitoring for
patients who bring their Care Plan and Return Slip from the secondary care provider.
Optometrists wishing to participate in the scheme will be required to complete an accreditation (the same as the accreditation for IOP Referral Refinement). This is through the accreditation
programme developed by the Wales Optometry Postgraduate Education Centre (WOPEC) at Cardiff University and the Local Optical Committee Support Unit. It consists of distance learning lectures and
questions using 2 CDs (approx 3 hours) which carries CET points and an assessment (approx 1 ½ hours). The assessment will include 4 areas: Goldmann Applanation Tonometry, calibrating a
Goldmann, van Herricks technique and Volk lens use. Optometrists are required to pass this accreditation prior to taking part in the scheme.
Optician practices Contract / Local Enhanced Service (LES) The contract / LES is divided into 2 parts. Part 1 is the agreement with the practice (practice owner in most cases) and requires the practice to sign to agree to abide by the requirements in Part 1 and also to agree to ensure that all accredited optometrists working within the practice will abide by Part 2. In a partnership practice, all partners will need to sign the agreement.
Please note
Forms on this page can only be used for patients registered with a Swindon GP practice who have been transferred from GWH with a Community Care Plan. Patients will bring this with them to register with an optician, in addition to a return slip, which you are required to return to the Referral Support Centre.