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New BNSSG ICB Community Post-Op Cataract Follow-up Service

27 February 2023

Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucester (BNSSG) clinical commissioning group (CCG) has formally been moved to an Integrated Care Board (ICB) and this has facilitated the expansion of existing services.

The new BNSSG ICB Community Post Operative Cataract Surgery Follow Up Service is now live. This is an expansion of the historic Bristol CCG area scheme to:

  1. Cover patients registered with a GP from the anywhere within the BNSSG footprint.
  2. Include patients from all surgical providers including Bristol Eye Hospital, Newmedica Bristol, Spamedica Bristol and Practice Plus Emersons Green. BNSSG ICB have advised us that follow ups must be via this service from 01/04/2023 with the exception of Practice Plus Emersons Green who may be seen via the Primary Eyecare Services (Opera) scheme until 01/10/2023

Service specification: https://www.loc-online.co.uk/avon-loc/wp-content/uploads/sites/41/2023/02/Service-spec-BNSSG-ICB-Community-Post-Operative-Cataract-Surgery-Follow-Up-Service-1.pdf

The main changes are:

– Pupil dilation is no longer mandatory.
– IOP measurement is no longer required to be done by GAT.
– The fee per episode is £43.00.

As before the scheme is managed by the ICB not via the LOC.

If you are an NHS GOS contractor and would like to hold a contract for this service, please contact bnssg.pc.contracts@nhs.net

Bristol Eye Hospital have a backlog of historic patients who they are planning on discharging to the scheme. These patients are being advised to follow a patient-initiated follow-up, so it is anticipated many patients will choose not to present for follow-up. This is as a significant time has passed since their surgery and they may have already been seen by their optometrist for post-operative sight test.
A revised discharge letter will be sent to all of these patients on the BEH backlog. They will be provided with a QR code to direct them to the list of accredited optometrists as of 20/02/23. BEH Post-Op Cat Accredited Optometrists Feb 2023

It has been agreed that patients who had surgery and it has now been now more than 12 weeks since they should have had their post-op will not need to be prioritised. This means that they will not need to be seen in less than 6 weeks (as stated in service specification). Patients on the list that have been waiting under 12 weeks and new patients requiring a follow-up should be given priority.

Bristol Eye Hospital advise it is imperative that the Optometrist endeavors to recognise early post-operative complications and immediately refers the patient back to the Hospital.

For BEH this is through a secure email account:
ubh-tr.behcataractfollowups@nhs.net or if an emergency to BEH Emergency Department.

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