LOCSU annual report shows sector building for breakthrough

The increased number of primary care practices delivering care close to patient’s homes and so tackling capacity problems in the Hospital Eye Service is highlighted in the LOCSU Annual Report.

Activity through the LOC Company model has doubled and annual service revenue has risen to £8.5 million, according to the 2015-16 Annual Report.

There are now 552 services being delivered by optical practices in the community, with 109 rolled out since April 2015. Similarly, there are 133 services being delivered through Primary Eyecare Companies with 101 going live since April 2014.

Publishing the latest Annual Report, managing director, Katrina Venerus said: “The increase in the number of services and level of patient activity and increased revenue for community practices is real progress. The Annual Report show increases in both MECS and step-down care, two of our key targets outlined in the Breakthrough Strategy. With our new expanded Commissioning Team now embedded and starting to deliver, we are clearly out of the blocks in driving the scale and pace of community eye health services.”

The Report, which covers the period August 2015 to July 2016, also show that 55 per cent of LOCS now have a MECS pathway ­across 81 CCGs out of 208. And 182 CCGs have at least one eye health service.

To view the report click here. The report also includes a video introduction to the main points in the report.