Again respondents were offered an opportunity to explain the rationale behind their response.388 respondents completed this question. Common themes where: Those who agreed with the proposal believed it would reduce waiting times for patients, and ease pressure on hospitals. “Common sense to go to the opticians rather than people waiting and the added anxiety of going back to hospital” “Easier to access location. More familiar with staff and therefore less stressful - more likely to see same person. Less waiting time. Free up hospital time for complex cases.” 20 respondents (2 who answered “yes”, 4 who answered “not sure” and 14 who answered “no”) mentioned in their reply that they were worried this service change was privatisation of NHS services. “It will contribute to the accelerating pace of NHS privatisation and divert necessary funds away from St Pauls” “I am concerned this becoming a mechanism by which charges could be introduced for the appointments on the basis of them not falling under NHS control, thereby dismantling the NHS.” 19 respondents, (13 who answered “not sure”, 5 who answered “no” and one who answered “yes”) expressed concern that the opticians would be adequately qualified, competent and equipped to carry out the follow up appointments. “I'm not sufficiently aware of the level of medical training required for this or to what level opticians are trained to.” “As someone who has had ongoing difficulties since a cataract operation I wonder whether community opticians would have been able to have the relevant equipment and expertise to make a quick diagnosis.” 3.5 Question 5 - potential barriers to access In order to identify potential unexpected implications for the proposed redesign, respondents were asked if there was anything that would prevent them from using the Cataract assessment or follow up service at a community optician. The vast majority of respondents, 76% (n=521), did not feel there was anything that would prevent them from using the service. Figure 7 – Potential Barriers to access
attend the hospital. It's what I'm used to. Because I am of cuts being carried out in all regions in the NHS and widespread privatisation to be complete in 2020 i.e. the STPs I am also in KONP and SLWH campaign. Hospital more professional than opticians. Go to hospital with more confidence. wouldn’t know if they had been trained properly Not sure: I expect 95% of diagnoses are simply done. But there will be a percentage of cases which will be missed if they are done by people with less training. Further, it does no harm to have the eye viewed by an eye specialist who might spot some other emerging Not sure of the experience of opticians I am happy to go for routine eye tests at opticians and pay where applicable.... Would this be free and part or separate to this? Then ok.... If not, then concern cost at opticians would reduce service for many Is this second care because it's mainly elderly clients It entirely depends on how thorough the optician is and if the patient trusts his/her opinion. Don't know about cataracts Is this simply a cost cutting exercise? We pay extra for opticians appointments whereas hospital appointments are completely on the NHS, so what are the cost implications for patients? The established process has been successful, I am not sure that the public will have confidence in opticians undertaking this work. What guarantees of training etc. would we have? Not all cataracts are routine. So how does the optician know the surgeon’s ability. If is another eye condition, I think the cataract should be under care of specialist Don't have enough information to answer I do not have enough information about competency It’s a very skilled procedure in a delicate area. I hate to see the level of skill downgraded Would need to know more about the service offered Would expertise be lost? think i would rather have eye specialist Have known opticians get it wrong. So need assurance of their quality and also need to know more about their brief about when to refer on. It means trusting opticians and my family has had problems with opticians. Has it or will it involve privatisation? I have reservations involving any "private" business in our health service! I'm not sure how cataracts affect me at the present as I
It would be more convenient with the proposal for all routine post-operative cataract follow up appointments to be carried out by opticians in the local community. Easy to go to opticians. No confidence with opticians. Save time (do not wait for the hospital appointment). No confidence with opticians. Don't need to wait a long time for the hospital letter. More convenient. More confidence with opticians. Don't know what's different about opticians and attending a hospital appointment. More convenient and agree with the proposal for all routine post-operative cataract follow up appointments to be carried out by local opticians. Have confidence with opticians for all routine post-operative. Confidence with opticians. Do need to take long time waiting for hospital appointment. Faster service. More convenient and saves time. No need to take transport to hospital, can use optician in city centre. I prefer to go back to the specialists care in hospital. Confidence in opticians, can access treatment more quickly. To reduce the waiting list in hospital. operation it is also more convenient provided that I can have the referral and immediate booking with doctor if any side effect or complication existed after the operation. Agreed if the operation has no side effect. Agreed but depends on the situation. Have a choice & refer by to GP for complications for my eye may be preferable. I prefer to have the post operation check up at hospital. Can get treatment immediately. Fast, no need to queue. I would prefer the care from hospital after operation. Convenience. Quick and fast and convenient. Convenient, less travel. Convenient, less travelling. Good to have the post operation check up by doctor. Prefer to do it in hospital with specialist around. Good and simple. More convenient, less travelling, faster service. Agreed the post operation check up by optician. Faster and more convenient if no side effects. Convenience. Convenience. If no side effects can go to have post operation up at the opticians. More easy and easy for booking optician. Professional. Attending local opticians is more convenient because that will shorten the waiting time. Attend the same optician every year and follow up by a professional specialist. Quicker service and receive diagnostic results at initial assessment. for the same reason as long as they are qualified don’t have a problem same as as above prefer to be seen IN HOSPITAL. prefer to go to hospital - more convenient Question 5a.