Berkshire East PCT has awarded provider status to six organisations in their innovative ‘Willing Provider’ scheme for NHS ophthalmology. Eventually all providers will be available through ‘choose and book’ but at the moment all primary care ophthamology referrals are to be processed through the GRACE referral centre and directed onwards to either the acute trust (usually King Edward VII Hospital, Windsor), or to the ‘Willing Provider’ of choice indicated on the referral letter.

One provider has committed to providing much more than ‘intermediate ophthalmology’. The Community Eye Clinic Group led by Sundeep Kheterpal is committed to providing ‘secondary care ophthalmology in the community’ . The clincal team of  Ophthalmologists and full support staff of orthoptists , optometrists and administration staff will provide the highest level of clinical care backed by clinic facilities and equipment second to none in the region . Clinic facilities have been set up in Maidenhead ,Wexham and Bracknell to ensure availability and convenience to patients. The service offered by the Community Eye Clinic, therefore, offers secondary level of care in the community but  offering the same savings to the PCT as ‘intermediate ophthalmology’ providers.

Referral letters which do not specify a choice of community provider will be directed by GRACE to their nearest available provider. If GPs and Optometrists wish to have a say in  how and where their patients are treated then  the choice of acute trust and community provider (eg KEVII /PCEU or Community Eye Clinic/CEC) should be specified on the referral letter.

Models of  care and the boundaries between services will continue to evolve in the future; the division between primary and secondary care is blurring. The Community Eye Clinic Group has the vision to bring the very best of secondary care NHS ophthalmology closer to the patients.

Community Eye Clinic

Tel : 0845 862 0690

Fax: 0845 862 0691

enquiries@communityeyeclinic.com