Update on NHS England Special School Eye Care Service from Professor Rachel Pilling
Many thanks for your ongoing support and interest in the Special School Eye Care Programme.
The scheme began in 2021 and underwent an external evaluation in 2023. The minister at that time confirmed the scheme would continue with permanent central funding, but would be commissioned by local ICBs.
The central team determined that the scheme would apply to optical and dental services and a series of information events were held in Autumn 2024, with a view to tenders for contracts being made in January 2025.
There has been a hiatus since then for three reasons
- the proposed fee being cut (an appeal being launched by the optical bodies)
- the proposed service specification being amended but not finalised (see attached ‘stop continue start’ document)
- the development of key performance indicators and standards
None of these has been resolved or published.
With regret, I have to report that despite our best efforts NHSE have announced that they do not wish to engage with the Professional Stakeholder Group who developed the original service documentation. Nor do they show interest in undertaking any analysis of the >12 000 data set they hold relating to sight tests completed in the programme to date.
Applications will be via each local ICB, and so there is no fixed date set nationally. There is a platform to apply through but again, there is recent updates on this so I can’t offer any more detail on where to sign up to apply.
What is clear is that there is money ringfenced for the service for the medium-long term and that the pilot demonstrated an unmet need in one cohort of children, and an opportunity to provide eye care outside the hospital setting for another cohort.
There remains a willingness to ensure all providers are able to tender for a service, in particular hospital eye services.
The documentation which is required in the tender process at present aligns more closely with optical independent businesses than NHS Trusts (see below) – I continue to liaise with NHSE about how this might be adapted for NHS organisations and may have a further update in May.
I will continue to provide updates as they are available, please do email me prior to May if there are any specific queries I might be able look into for you
Professor Rachel Pilling
Professor of Special Needs and Learning Disability Eye Care
University of Bradford
