IHPN welcomes new GIRFT guidance to improve glaucoma care and reduce avoidable sight loss

The Independent Healthcare Providers Network (IHPN) welcome new best practice guidance from NHS England’s Getting It Right First Time (GIRFT) programme aimed at improving glaucoma care and reducing the risk of avoidable sight loss.

The new Best Practice for Glaucoma Services guidance has been developed with support from organisations including the Royal College of Ophthalmologists, the College of Optometrists, RNIB, Glaucoma UK, the UK Ophthalmology Alliance and IHPN. It sets out a framework to support earlier diagnosis, more accurate referrals and better long-term management of glaucoma patients across England.

IHPN said timely intervention and clear referral pathways are critical to good glaucoma care and welcomed the continued collaboration between the NHS, GIRFT and independent sector providers to help ensure patients can access care when they need it and as close to home as possible.

The guidance aligns with the ambitions of the NHS 10 Year Health Plan by promoting digitally enabled pathways and greater delivery of services in community and primary care settings. This includes additional community-based testing before hospital referral for new patients, expanded use of virtual glaucoma follow-up pathways, and more efficient discharge arrangements for patients who no longer require ongoing follow-up.

Independent sector providers already play a significant role in supporting NHS ophthalmology services, carrying out around half of all NHS-funded cataract procedures in England, alongside wider diagnostic and outpatient activity. IHPN said it was pleased to contribute to the development of the guidance alongside clinical leaders, patient organisations and NHS partners.

The guidance is intended to help standardise local glaucoma pathways, improve continuity of care and reduce delays to follow-up appointments, helping minimise the risk of irreversible sight loss for patients.

GIRFT will host a webinar on 30 June from 12pm–1pm to outline the guidance in more detail and explore how clinicians and organisations can work collaboratively to implement the recommendations locally.