Provision of Electronic Eyecare Referral System to Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

NHSX have created a Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS) to enable the rapid transformation of new referral management pathways for ophthalmology patients. Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust have awarded a contract for an Electronic Eyecare Referral System.

This Procurement process is looking to address and improve the connectivity that links primary care optometry and the hospital eye service which is seen as key to improving eye care services in England.

The ambition is to have numerous trained and well-equipped primary care optometrists with the ability to make clinical decisions based on quantitative and imaging clinical data. This will provide significant opportunities to use digital connectivity to improve eye care.

NHSX considers digital solutions that increase connectivity between different providers of eye care horizontally and vertically, and across primary and secondary care, to be a key enabler for the national outpatient transformation programme. This will rapidly restore and ensure continuation of eye care services during Covid-19 and transform how services are delivered in the future.

The Electronic Eyecare Referral System (EeRS) will be available to all Primary Care optometrists and optical practices, eye hospitals, trusts with eye departments and community eye services across the Cambridgeshire, North and West Essex and North Hertfordshire area.

This procurement process was facilitated by the NHS England National and Commercial Procurement Hub (commissioned from the SCW CSU) on behalf of the Commissioners.

Additional information: Linked to previous publication: OJ S: 2020/S 230-568420