News Archives - Page 14 of 16

CHEC is pleased to announce that it will be the entrance sponsor for the upcoming 100% Optical event at ExCel, London. 100% Optical is the largest ophthalmology event in the UK and is expected to attract over 9,500 visitors and over 200 exhibitors between the 23rd and 25th of April.

As a major sponsor, CHEC will have a stand at the event with a dry lab, providing the opportunity for volunteers to practise cataract surgery on a demonstration model. Imran Rahman, CEO and consultant ophthalmologist, will award an iPad to the best surgeon each day.

Imran Rahman will also be hosting a discussion at 09.30 on the 24th of April on “Managing the COVID-19 backlog in ophthalmology”, where he will explore the role community-based approaches to healthcare have in reducing NHS waiting lists.

Speaking about the event, Imran Rahman said, “We are very excited to be the entrance sponsors for 100% Optical, a respected and prestigious event in the ophthalmology industry. We would welcome attendees to come to visit us at stand L430 and try out our unique dry lab. I am honoured to be hosting a discussion on managing the COVID-19 backlog, something that lies at the very core of what we aim to do at CHEC through our community-based approaches to healthcare.”

CHEC will be joined at the event by the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB), a charity offering support and advice to two million people in the UK experiencing sight loss. CHEC has recently partnered with RNIB to ensure Eye Care Liaison Officers will be on hand at sites to provide tailored practical and emotional support to patients.

CHEC’s sponsorship and provision of further services mark CHEC’s successful efforts in growing and raising awareness of the importance of accessible healthcare.

The Centre will help ease local and regional ophthalmology backlogs
Roll out of new CHEC centres aims to provide faster support for half a million patients waiting for ophthalmology treatment in the UK

CHEC, one of the largest providers of community-based ophthalmology services in the UK, has announced the launch of a new treatment centre offering eye care services in Northampton.

CHEC’s latest clinic is conveniently located in the centre of Northampton in Sol Central and will provide the NHS with increased capacity to help tackle the backlog of some half a million ophthalmology-related treatments, such as cataracts. The launch of CHEC’s services in Northampton will offer a much-needed option for patients in need of treatment in the region.

CHEC’s new treatment centre in Northampton will play an important role in clearing regional eyecare backlogs in the East Midlands, which has been one of the hardest-hit areas, seeing a 39% drop in elective admissions throughout the pandemic. CHEC’s expanding network of clinics is also playing an increasingly vital role in reducing the burden on the NHS and allowing patients to receive treatment as early and efficiently as possible.

Like CHEC’s other centres, the Northampton centre offers CHEC’s free Home to Hospital™ transport service, which offers patients transport to and from appointments and surgery, helping patients reach their appointments efficiently and without stress. The opening of the Northampton centre also follows the release of CHEC’s booking app, which can determine the urgency of an appointment and allow patients to book the most convenient time for themselves, speeding up the booking process and minimising cancellations and missed appointments.

The Northampton centre follows recent site openings across the Midlands, including in Leicester, Nottingham and Coventry, as part of CHEC’s continued rollout of new centres to help the NHS and provide high-quality, efficient eye care. Throughout the pandemic, CHEC has provided much needed support to the NHS as a trusted partner and has received positive feedback with 99% of patients happy to recommend CHEC to friends and family.

Jon Dore, Chief Operating Officer at CHEC, said: “The launch of our new treatment centre in Northampton is a welcome addition to our recent site openings. We believe it is essential to expand our services in regions where the NHS faces crippling backlogs and pressures, and the opening of the centre illustrates our priority – supporting the NHS and of course, local patients who are in urgent need of our services. At CHEC, high-quality, responsive care always comes first, and this site will play a role in building a strong partnership with the local community for many years to come.”

CHEC has announced a strategic partnership with the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) to provide dedicated Eye Care Liaison Officer (ECLO) services for CHEC’s centres. The partnership launches on 1st April and will be rolled out to an initial 10 centres.

The ECLO service will offer CHEC patients practical and emotional support after a diagnosis, ensuring patients receive readily available, personalised care. The areas of support offered by ECLOs include independent living, returning to work, benefit entitlements, use of technology, emotional support, and coping at home, empowering patients to discuss their concerns.

Jon Dore, COO at CHEC commented on the partnership, saying “We are delighted to announce our partnership with the RNIB, which will enable us to offer our patients support from an RNIB Eye Care Liaison Officer. With the pandemic increasing the pressure on eyecare services, this innovative partnership will ensure our patients, their families and carers have personalised advice and support to cope with a sight loss diagnosis.”

He added, “At CHEC, we care deeply about our patients and are committed to providing support across all aspects of their care and this new service will allow us to deliver on that promise.”

RNIB has been delivering an ECLO service across the UK since 1994. ECLOs must successfully complete RNIB’s Eye Clinic Support Studies course, accredited by the City, University of London, and approximately half of ECLOs have sight loss themselves.

The introduction of ECLO services is part of CHEC’s efforts to make healthcare more accessible for patients, following the recent app launch and the introduction of the free Home to Hospital transport service at the end of last year.

CHEC has announced the launch of its brand-new booking app, which will help patients to be seen as efficiently as possible. The app is the first of its kind to be launched by a community health service.

The app is able to determine the urgency of an appointment and will make it easier for patients to book a time that suits them. By giving patients a range of options, patients can book the most convenient times, minimising cancellations and missed appointments. This will shorten what can often be a testing process for patients.

Jon Dore, COO at CHEC, commented, “The online appointment booking system enables us to reach more patients and ensure they are treated quickly and efficiently. With the NHS facing extreme backlogs as a result of the pandemic, this app allows us to make a strong contribution to helping reduce patient wait times.”

He added, “It is good to see that patients are already making use of the app, which will accelerate our ability to offer appointments by making it as quick and easy as possible, and minimising cancellations with patients able to book at their convenience.”

The CHEC app is already being used by almost 50% of CHEC’s patients and will enable CHEC to reach more patients and make healthcare more accessible in an increasingly digitised world. It is important that patients are able to access their appointments, and the increased flexibility of the app alongside CHEC’s free Home to Hospital transport service will reduce the stress of making appointments.

All patients will be contacted via text with a secure link to book using the CHEC app.

The pandemic has forced industries and businesses to rapidly adapt and none more so than the healthcare sector. With the NHS facing unprecedented pressures, there has been a need to rapidly digitise our healthcare system.

In fact, as patients prepared themselves for this shift online, the NHS App was downloaded nearly half a million times when NHS Digital initially launched its response to Covid-19. Whilst this digitalisation has offered many benefits, it also risks leaving the most vulnerable members of our community behind. With many people finding digital healthcare inaccessible, patients have put off seeking vital treatment. For example, as a result of the pandemic, one in five adults are now less likely to get an eye test leaving them at risk of untreated conditions. With the NHS already facing record backlogs, it is essential we support the NHS in offering the in-person and tailored care that patients need to seek treatment. Community-based treatment centres can provide a solution by ensuring patients have access to personalised and local care.

Bridging the digital gap

The pandemic has necessitated a shift online for several routine healthcare services. Many patients have welcomed this digitalisation with almost 28 million people in England registering an NHS login by October 2021. Clearly, for many patients, this shift online is a positive to which they have adapted and welcomed for the ease it can offer. However, for many people in the UK, this digitalisation is leaving them behind.

Considering 11.9 million people in the UK do not have the digital skills necessary for everyday life, this shift online could be leaving 22% of our population putting off seeking medical help. In addition, it is typically the most vulnerable members of our society who are left without access to the internet. With 150,000 residential properties in the UK falling below what is judged to be a “decent” level of internet coverage, many people are left facing digital poverty without the skills or means to get online. Community-based services can bridge the gap across this digital divide. The increased capacity of community-based services often enables the delivery of both online and traditional access to healthcare, this can support the NHS in offering patients both the benefits of digitalisation and the accessibility of in-person care.

Personalising care

Another aspect of this shift online is a reduction in face-to-face appointments. Initial NHS England guidance advised GP practices to utilise an online or telephone triage system rather which has resulted in reduced face-to-face appointments. In December alone, only 61% of GP consultations took place in person in comparison to 80% before the pandemic.

While this digitalisation of healthcare has offered many benefits for some patients, for others, this reduction in face-to-face appointments has left their care lacking in personalisation. Community-based services offer healthcare in a local setting where patients can be seen in person. In addition, community-based services that offer end-to-end care ensure patients are seen by a familiar practitioner who is well-versed in their needs. In fact, 97% of CHEC’s post-cataract surgery patients receive treatment in community settings. This in-person care with a familiar practitioner ensures patients receive care that is truly tailored to their needs.

Delivering better outcomes

In addition to providing increased accessibility to patients, community-based services are vital in supporting the NHS. The NHS currently faces unprecedented backlogs of almost six million patients as a result of the pandemic. The increased capacity of community-based services enables them to support the NHS by helping to tackle these waitlists. As a result, community-based services support the NHS while also ensuring patients are provided with accessible healthcare – delivering better outcomes for both.

Imran Rahman, CEO & Consultant Ophthalmologist, CHEC

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Recent news that more than one in six NHS trusts across England has declared critical incidents has signalled that priority services are coming under further pressure, once again placing the spotlight on NHS waiting lists and the strain of backlogs on key services.

Those waiting lists are now longer than ever before, while at the same time people show a reluctance to add to the workload of over-worked staff in hospitals and clinics with health issues perceived – sometimes wrongly – to be minor. There’s clearly a need to find ways to release pressure from the system and improve the quality of life for hundreds of thousands of people.

Just prior to the emergence of Omicron late last year, the impact of Covid-19 had already pushed up the total NHS waiting list to a record six million, with over two million of those waiting more than 18 weeks for treatment. Among these patients were over one million in need of ophthalmology treatment. That figure is higher now, but it stems from a situation that could be alleviated using infrastructure that is already in place in our local communities.

Progression adds urgency

The NHS actually recommends an 18-week maximum wait for cataract surgery but, due to the pandemic, that has now grown to an average of nine months.

The challenge for the NHS is how to reduce, if not clear, that backlog of treatments and operations against the backdrop of the pandemic, which raises the risks for vulnerable older patients in hospitals. The urgency seemingly increases by the day.

Lengthy waiting lists and delayed operations can have a profound impact, whatever the condition, and that’s the case too with cataracts, which are progressive over time. Therefore, the longer the wait, the worse the condition and the harder it is to correct. It’s not just waiting lists, it’s the waiting time in the hospital before being treated. In December, the number of patients waiting over 12 hours in corridor trolley beds for admission increased to a record-high 10,646, up 51% from October.

A study of the average waiting time between referral and cataract surgery at 12 NHS trusts around London was found to be 204 days in 2020. This rose to 278 days in 2021, up 36%. Those confronted with those delays faced a significant deterioration in their quality of life, such as being no longer able to drive, more susceptible to falls and possibly being unable to read.

By comparison, the average NHS waiting time nationally for all procedures carried out during the first half of 2021 was 10 weeks, with the waiting time for ophthalmology-specific procedures at 11 weeks. The problem for those needing cataract surgery is that it’s a procedure that is of relatively low clinical priority, meaning it tends to get pushed back when more urgent cases arise.

With or without the pandemic, the UK’s ageing population means waiting lists for cataract operations and treatment for other eye conditions will grow.

Shared model solution

One way to bring down the pressure on the NHS in the field of eye care is, in some ways, so obvious it goes unnoticed. It lies in expanding a practice already in place and working well. The NHS already adopts a shared partnership model approach with community-based services where they exist. They offer proximity to local communities, along with specialist expertise, without the Covid-related health risks that may be associated with larger hospitals.

Offering high-quality care right in the centre of communities also provides a tailored patient experience while reducing the burden on the NHS. In addition, a focus on end-to-end care can mean patients do not have to see multiple providers. This means community-based care can offer patients a care experience tailored to their needs.

It’s worth remembering that a cataract can be fixed with a simple 10-minute operation using anaesthesia eye drops that make it a day-case procedure. So, there is simply no need to go to a hospital.

Community-based services are very helpful for dealing with these common eye conditions, generally delivered by a community optometrist. Here, the management is usually maintained within the primary care setting for as many patients as is safely possible, avoiding unnecessary referrals to hospitals.

The clinics can also undertake minor operations, besides cataracts, such as the removal of cysts on or around the eye. They can also deal with skin cancer on the eyelid, which can be very time-sensitive. In general, a malignant lesion grows more rapidly than a benign one. Where melanomas or squamous cell carcinomas are suspected, it’s important that patients are referred to a specialist urgently using the two-week wait referral system and get treated within 31 days.

The way forward

Community-based services can offer patients an improved experience while also supporting the NHS. The increased capacity of these services enables patients to receive high-quality care as quickly as possible. As a result, the burden placed on the NHS is relieved and patients receive a better outcome; that’s the ultimate objective of all healthcare.

Despite the government’s multi-billion-pound investment, the NHS is still set to face a backlog of 10 million patients by 2024. The shared care partnership model is already used and proven to be effective. It should now be expanded to help and support the NHS in tackling its treatment backlog.

Imran Rahman is CEO and a consultant ophthalmologist at CHEC.

Today we welcomed our 1000^th to our Preston Cataract and Surgical Centre in a milestone day for CHEC.

The lovely patient, Sylvia from Leyland, was referred to the centre to have her second cataract surgery.

“This is such a lovely surprise, and it has really made my day” said Sylvia on being welcomed to her surgery with flowers, gifts, balloons, and a certificate to commemorate the occasion. Sylvia continued, “this is my second eye with CHEC and the results from the first one were super, so I’m looking forward to going back to the opticians for a new prescription hopefully!”

The surgeon that completed the operation for Sylvia was Consultant Ophthalmologist, Nick Hickley, who also happened to complete our first surgery back in February, which added a nice symmetry to the occasion.

Huge congratulations to Antonia Standaloft and all the team at Preston for their superb work! We’re sure they are looking forward to welcoming the next 1000 patients to the hospital.

Transportation and getting to appointments can be an issue for some patients. To help with this, Community Eyecare has invested in a fleet of mini-buses and employed friendly local drivers who will help if you are in need.

Our drivers are specifically recruited to have a friendly, calm, and reassuring manner which ensures the safety and security of our patients.

Drivers have the depth of knowledge, experience, and training to be well equipped to deal with our patients’ requirements.

Our vehicles are thoroughly cleaned between each trip, and we keep up with all COVID-19 safety regulations. This includes:

Sanitising all interior and exterior touchpoints between each patient journey
Supplying alcohol gel for both patient and driver use
Drivers will open and close doors to limit the surfaces patients touch
Drivers also wear medical-grade masks for additional assurance
All your fellow patients will be asked to wear a face-covering for your safety.

As much as our drivers are often invited for a ‘brew’ after the service, we ask that they do not enter patient homes to ensure patient and driver safety.

We always practice safe driving techniques, so you will always feel safe and secure in the comfort of our fully air-conditioned minibuses. All our drivers are CRB checked and have their licenses checked prior to starting with us and any updates must be reported. Our fleet is fully insured and has breakdown cover so if the worst happens, you won’t be stuck for long!

One of our longest-serving drivers, Mohammed, said; “Having the capability to help provide a service to our patients from their home, through our doors at Community Eyecare, for their surgery, to then return them into the safety of their home gives us as employees enormous satisfaction.”

Most patients find the experience of being transported to one of our centres a fun one!

One of our recent patients, Jean, who attended our Preston centre recently said, “I wouldn’t have been able to make it to my surgery without this service. I was a bit worried because I’ve been shielding for a long time now, but I couldn’t have felt more safe and secure. It actually gave me a real boost talking to the driver who was a lovely chap”.

Chief Executive Officer Imran Rahman has outlined the importance of the initiative to the wider community, “Giving back to the community is something very important to us all at Community Eyecare, so if our transportation service can help even one patient to ultimately have better eyesight sooner, it is worth the significant investment we have made.”

For more information about our home-to-hospital service, don’t hesitate to give us a call on our patient helpline: 0330 100 4730.