Classification: Official
Publication reference: PRN01312

To:

• regional eye health leads
• integrated care board eye health leads
• all trust eye health leads

cc:

• regional medical directors
• regional elective care leads

Dear colleagues,

Support for the eye care support pathway

I am writing to express my support for the eye care support pathway, and to encourage all stakeholders in the eye care sector to support and, where possible, adopt this pathway as it represents a significant advancement in our ongoing efforts to enhance eye care services across England.

As the National Clinical Director for Eyecare at NHS England and as a practising clinician, I have witnessed first-hand the need for patients to receive support along their eye care journey. The eye care support pathway addresses this need head on. It provides essential, comprehensive support at 4 key stages of that journey: initial appointment, diagnosis confirmation, post-diagnosis support and living well with the condition. By integrating non-clinical support into existing eye care pathways, we can ensure that patients receive not just medical treatment but also the support and guidance they need at every step.

This pathway is the result of extensive collaboration with health and social care professionals, individuals with lived experience of eye care services and sight loss, the third sector and professional bodies across the eye care sector. The insights and contributions from these diverse perspectives have been invaluable in shaping a pathway that is both practical and empathetic.

The pathway not only meets immediate patient needs but also aims for long-term improvements in eye care delivery, mental health support, fall prevention and employment, benefiting both individuals and the UK economy.

Thank you to everyone involved for their dedication and commitment to this vital project.

Yours sincerely,

Louisa Wickham, National Clinical Director for Eyecare, Moorfields Eye Hospital