Shropshire Clinical Commissioning Group and Telford and Wrekin Clinical Commissioning Group jointly wish to invite prospective providers to express their interest for the provision of optometry services.

This invitation to tender provides information pertaining to the procurement for optometry services. The purpose of this procurement is to secure a Service Provider to deliver optometry services to the county of Shropshire (comprising 2 CCGs).

— Shropshire Clinical Commissioning Group (http://www.shropshireccg.nhs.uk),

— Telford and Wrekin Clinical Commissioning Group (http://www.telfordccg.nhs.uk).

The UK Vision Strategy 2013-2018, promotes collaboration, coordination and integration of the local eye care system between primary, secondary and social care and offers service users a wide choice of geographical locations across the whole county of Shropshire. According to “UK Vision Strategy” sight loss is now a major health issue, affecting about 2 000 000 People in the UK. The vast majority are older people, although an estimated 80 000 working age people and 25 000 children in the UK are affected by sight problems (Keil S. Key statistics. RNIB, 2008).

The objective of this procurement is to procure a service to oversee the delivery of the following optometry schemes within primary care:

— Minor Eye Care Service (MECS),

— Cataract Referral Refinement,

— post-operative cataract follow up,

— Glaucoma Repeat Measures,

— children’s eye care scheme.

The service aims to:

— improve eye health and reduce inequalities by providing increased access to eye care in the community,

— utilise the knowledge and skills of primary care optometrists to manage and prioritise the care of the service user and ensure referrals are appropriate and timely,

— reduce the number of visits to hospital eye services and reduce the likely waiting time for the service user,

— ensure more accurate referral information is made available if a referral to hospital eye services is required,

— signpost to other appropriate services,

— streamline referral processes,

— streamline service user pathways,

— improve service user experience and choice by utilising optometry practices,

— develop relationships between ophthalmic practitioners, hospital eye services and the Clinical Commissioning Groups,

— improve eye health in line with the UK Vision Strategy,

— meet agreed waiting times for each scheme,

— assist service users/carers to self-care, providing education and care planning where required,

— deliver care closer to home.

The CCG’s are looking to appoint a service provider or consortium to deliver this service for a period of 3 years with an optional 2 years extension available.

The successful provider will be required to sign the NHS Standard Contract for the service and accept all terms and conditions.