Research shows MECS reduced volume of patients referred to hospitals by GPs

New research funded by the College of Optometrists has found that introducing an intermediate-tier service (ITS) for eye care services could reduce the volume of patients referred to hospitals by GPs and provide replacement services at lower costs. The  research, published by BMJ Open, although not applicable across all parts of the UK, investigated the changes in volume of hospital ophthalmology patients and the related costs, before and after minor eye conditions services (MECS) were introduced in two London boroughs.

The research involved assessing schemes in Lambeth and Lewisham and compared their performance with a neighbouring borough, Southwark, as a control. The scheme was introduced in Lambeth and Lewisham in April 2013 and comparisons in performance were made for September 2011 to April 2013 and April 2013 to October 2014. Estimates on the impact of MECS on hospital ophthalmology attendances showed:

  • For Lambeth, first attendances to hospital ophthalmology referred by GPs were differentially reduced by 30.2 per cent at the largest provider, compared with Southwark. Follow up attendances were differentially reduced by 16.7 per cent at a second hospital and by 14.6 per cent at other providers.
  • For Lewisham, first attendances to hospital ophthalmology referred by GPs were differentially reduced by 75.2 per cent at the largest provider, compared with Southwark, and by 40.3 per cent for follow-up visits.
  • Total hospital and ITS costs in Lambeth were 2.5 per cent higher in the period analysed after MECS was introduced. Total costs in Lewisham were 13.8 per cent lower. By comparison, costs in the control area of Southwark were 3.1 per cent higher.
  • The majority of Lambeth and Lewisham MECS patients presented with minor anterior eye disease and over 80 per cent of these patients were managed by their community optometrist.

Michael Bowen, director of research for the College of Optometrists, said; “This is important research, both for the optical sector and beyond; there is very little previous research on the wider effects of introducing schemes such as MECS and the existing pool of data had recommended further investigation into the cost and benefit of these services. The results are encouraging, and suggest that MECS can reduce the volume of patients referred to hospital, and potentially reduce costs.”

Professor John Lawrenson, School of Health Sciences, Division of Optometry & Visual Sciences at City, University of London said; “While this research is encouraging, it’s also important to note that it did show up disparities across boroughs. Differences in how services are structured and used may account for the variation in the number of referrals and costs reported between Lambeth and Lewisham. Although not entirely conclusive and not necessarily generisable across the UK, the research fills an important evidence gap on the potential cost-effectiveness of introducing these intermediate tier services.”

The Lambeth scheme was concentrated in eight optometry practices and five practices took part in Lewisham. Equally, the number of referrals varied; 56 per cent of MECS patients in Lambeth were referred by a GP, in comparison with 75 per cent in Lewisham.

This research was conducted as part of the College of Optometrists’ Enhanced Scheme Evaluation Project (ESEP) and was commissioned to provide evidence about optometrists’ involvement in community schemes. Qualitative data from the study was published last year by BMJ Open exploring the views of patients, community optometrists, GPs, commissioners and ophthalmologists. Previous research includes an in-depth analysis of the introduction of MECS in Lambeth and Lewisham also published by BMJ Open. The first systematic realist review of the evidence on the effectiveness of these schemes was published in the College’s international research journal Ophthalmic & Physiological Optics (OPO).