MOBILE-EYES-UK LTD

 Ophthalmic Services

Home Visiting Opticians in Dorset

Information:

Code of Practice for Domiciliary eyecare

Clinical:
  • Patients will receive a sight test in accordance with the regulations, their individual needs, the duty of care and confidentiality of the Optometrist towards the patient
  • Providers will use specialised portable equipment to enable the Optometrist to deliver the best possible care to the patient inline with the regulations
  • Where the environment or medical limitations of the patient make it impossible to include the full range of procedures, the reasons will be shown on the record card
  • Providers acknowledge that when supplying domiciliary services they are acting in a position of trust.  All members will monitor and support their clinical staff with regular clinical governance reviews

Preparation:

  • NHS sight tests will be offered to those who cannot access community optical practices unaccompanied, as a result of mental or physical disability, as set out in the regulations
  • Eligibility for a domiciliary examination will be established and the reason noted on the record card, as will any eligibility  for an optical voucher, as set out in the regulations
  • The providers will respect the rights of each patient to make their individual choice of provider for services and appliances

Continuing Care:

  • Spectacles prescribed will be fitted individually to patients and any tolerance problems will be addressed by the patient's choice of suitably trained staff
  • Providers commit themselves to revisiting each patient for a further eye examination as indicated at their previous examination
  • Patients have the right to expect a high standard of continuing care which ensures that any follow-up care required or requested is provided efficiently and professionally
  • Providers have an obligation to ensure that, when a patient opts to be cared for by another provider, relevant information (eg spectacle prescription and date of last sight test ) is made available to the new provider with the consent of the patient or the patient's carer

Communication:

  • Providers will only recruit clinical personnel who possess the specialised communication skills and clinical skills necessary for domiciliary patients
  • Each patient will be treated as an individual and communication will primarily be with them throughout their care unless this in inappropriate
  • Carers and relatives will be involved where appropriate
  • Providers will provide a spectacle prescription or statement for each patient as required by the regulations and additionally (if relevant) will deposit further information with the home/carer, with the patient's permission, to summarise the outcomes of sight tests

General:

  • Providers are committed to providing high quality, personalised and professional eyecare and optical services for housebound patients
  • Business will be conducted according to the statutory regulations currently in force, the GOS Terms of Service and with regard to peer group guidance
  • All providers agree not to supply concessionary optical services including sight testing services, optometric products or other inducements to the owners and staff of care homes
  • The competitive market is recognised as a positive driver of quality and patient choice, and companies will not compete in ways that are inappropriate

  • Providers apply a non-discrimination policy towards all patients in the supply of domiciliary services

 Probity:

  • Providers recognise the importance of probity within the NHS and are committed to employing rigorous audit processes to ensure eligibility for NHS funding

Complaints:

  • Any complaints about providers or allegations that a provider has fallen below the standards set out in this code should be addressed, in the first instance, to the provider, and the relevant Primary Care Trust (PCT) or the:

Optical Consumer Complaints Service (OCCS), P.O Box 4685, London, SE1 6ZB

Tel:  020 7261 1017

  • They can also be raised in confidence with the Domiciliary Eyecare Committee:

Domiciliary Eyecare Committee, c/o Federation of Ophthalmic & Dispensing Opticians, 199 Gloucester Terrace, London, W2 6LD

Tel:  020 7298 5151

NHS General ophthalmic Services:

  • General Ophthalmic Services (GOS) are a well established, integral part of the NHS.  Optometrists, Ophthalmic Medical Practitioners (OMPs) and Dispensing Opticians provide an excellent example of high quality service delivered with a high level of professionalism, utilising the most up to date equipment and offering excellent ease of access and patient choice
  • Under the NHS, eligible patients who cannot leave their home unaccompanied are entitled to a free sight test in the home.  This domiciliary service can be provided both by High Street optometrists (or OMPs) and specialist mobile services providers

  • Domiciliary services are an essential part of primary ophthalmic services and a life-line for many, yet countless eligible people are unaware that the service exists.  There is a need for improved awareness of its existence

Policy Position:

  • All housebound and disabled patients should have the same level of access to eye care services as able bodied patients
  • This is fundamental, underpinning principle of the NHS
  • The service should be provided in exactly the same way as a High Street GOS, i.e. patient choice should prevail.  Providers who meet specific standards should be able to extend choice, drive up quality and encourage innovation in developing a patient-centred service - particularly for hard to reach groups who may have difficulty in accessing High Street eye care services

Domiciliary Eye Care - an essential service:

  • Domiciliary eye care is an essential part of the nationally recognised GOS service
  • A sight test is essential for: optimising vision and the quality of life - preserving sight for as long as possible - reducing the incidence of accidents such as falls - maintaining independence.  For some people a domiciliary sight test is the only option

Eligibility:

  • NHS eye tests are available free of charge for:

children under 16 years of age

young people under 19 years of age and in full time education

people who have been diagnosed with diabetes, glaucoma or ocular hypertension

people over the age of 40 who have a close relative who has been diagnosed with glaucoma

people who are registered as partially sighted or blind

people receiving income support, family credit or job seekers allowance, or working disability allowance

people over the age of 60

people who receive income support or income based job seekers allowance (not contribution based)

People who receive working tax credit and are named on a tax credit NHS exemption certificate

People who receive child tax credit and are named on a tax credit NHS exemption certificate

People named on a NHS certificate for full help with health costs (HC2)

Also, those named on a NHS certificate for partial help with health costs (HC3), may also get help.  You will be asked to show proof of your entitlement to free NHS sight tests

The Domiciliary Eyecare Committee is grateful for the comments of the Department of Health and support of all optical bodies on this code.

The Mobile-Eyes-UK Ltd Infection Control Policy:

The use of appropriate hygiene procedures and precautions to prevent exposure to and to reduce the risk of transmission of infectious diseases within the testing area is essential.

Strict hygiene must be observed when dealing with patients and particular attention must be paid to any equipment with which they may come into contact.

Chinrests and headrests on slit lamps, field screeners, keratometers, tonometers, autorefractors, fundus cameras or any other equipment should be cleaned with a sterile wipe before use by each patient.

Similarly the bridge and sides of trail frames and forehead and cheek rests of refractor (phoropter) heads should be cleaned before each new patient.

Items coming into contact with a patient's eye must not be reused.

Disposable tonometer prisms must be used when performing contact tonometry using either Perkins or Goldmann tonometers.

Liquid antibacterial soap and paper towels are recommended for use is available, and alcohol based hand cleaners should be used in the absence of soap and water.  Do not use fabric towels to dry your hands.

Diagnostic solutions such as saline or contact lens soaking solutions must be clearly marked with the date fort opened.  They must always be stored with caps on and not used beyond the recommended dates.

Single-dose eye drops such as minims must only be used once and then discarded.

It is the responsibility of the healthcare professional to comply with these instructions.

Freedom of Information Act:

Publication Scheme

Welcome to the Publication Scheme for Mobile-Eyes-UK Ltd as required by the Freedom of Information Act 2000

Introduction

This publication scheme is a complete guide to the information routinely made available to the public by Mobile-Eyes-UK Ltd.  It is a description of the information about our NHS services that we make publically available.  It will be reviewed at regular intervals and we will monitor its effectiveness.

How much does it cost?

The publication is free unless otherwise indicated.  Where information is provided at cost, the charges will be calculated as set out in class 7.

How is the information made available?

The information within each class is available in hard copy form:

Mobile-Eyes-UK Ltd, 28 Feversham Heights, Feversham Avenue, Bournemouth, Dorset, BH8 9NL

Your Rights to Information:

  • The Freedom of Information Act 2000 is designed to promote openness and accountability amongst all organisations that receive public money

  • From January 1st 2005 it obliges opticians' and optometrists' practices to respond to requests about the NHS related information that it holds, and it will create a right of access to that information.  These rights are subject to some exemptions that have to be taken into consideration before releasing information.

  • In addition to accessing the information identified in the publication scheme, you are entitled to request information about our NHS services under the NHS Openness Code 1995.

  • Under the Data Protection Act 1998, you are also entitled to access your clinical records or any other personal information held about you, and you can contact any practice where your records are held to do this.

Feedback:

IF you have any comments about the operation of the Publication Scheme, or how we have dealt with your request for information form the scheme, please write to:

Mr Parag Patel, Mobile-Eyes-UK Ltd, 28 Feversham Heights, Feversham Ave, Bournemouth, Dorset, BH8 9NL

Classes of Information:

All NHS information at Mobile-Eyes-UK Ltd is held, and retained and destroyed within NHS guidelines.  Our commitment to publish information excludes any information that can be legitimately withheld under the exemptions set out in the NHS Openness Code or Freedom of Information Act 2000.  From 2005, individual Classes are subject to exemption, the main reasons being the protection of commercial interests and personal information under the Data Protection Act 1998.  The information on this Scheme is grouped into the following categories:

1.  Who we are:

  • Mobile-Eyes-UK Ltd is a provider of home visiting eyecare

  • Head Office:  28 Feversham Heights, Feversham Avenue, Bournemouth, Dorset, BH8 9NL. Tel:  01202 770400

  • Details of all the Opticians and Optometrists employed can be obtained by contacting our Head Office directly

  • Alternatively, details of all opticians and optometrists registered in the UK are available form the General Optical Council Tel:  0207 5803898

  • Company Registration number: 5926860

2.  Our Services:

Mobile-Eyes-UK Ltd's optometrists provide free NHS eye tests for those who are eligible.  You may also be entitled to GOS vouchers that can be used against the purchase of glasses or contact lenses if you require them.  To find out if you are eligible for assistance please ask for details form our Head Office on 01202 770400, or on this website.  Appointments for eye examinations can be booked either over the phone, or by e-mail.

3.  Financial and funding information:

A set fee is received by the Company for every NHS sight test performed.  This includes a contribution towards optometrists and staff salaries, equipment costs and other overheads.  If you are not eligible for the NHS eye test, please contact us for details of our current charges.

4.  Regular publications and information for the public:

A complete set of information about optical and ocular conditions, eye tests, glasses and contact lenses can be found on www.collegeoptometrists.org

Complaints:

if you have a complaint about any of our products or services, we recommend that you bring it to the attention of the staff member visiting you at home.  Alternatively, please telephone our Managing Director on 01202 770400

A full copy of our complaints policy is available on request from our Head Office

5.  Our policies and procedures:

  • Complaints
  • Data protection
  • Health and safety

They are available on request from our Head Office

6.  This publication scheme

In this class we will publish any changes we make to this publication scheme, the criteria on which our information management policies are made and a referral point for all enquiries regarding information management generally in practice.  We will also publish any proposed changes or additions to publications already available.

7.  Cost of information:

For the most part, we will only charge for hard copies, or copies onto media.  Charges are as follows and will be reviewed regularly.

  • Single hard copies - free of charge
  • Multiple hard copies, or archived copies will attract a charge for photocopying, retrieval and postage.  We will inform you of the cost of these charges that will have to be paid in advance
  • Email will be free of charge

How We Use Your Health Records:

  • Why we collect information about you and how it is used
  • Your right to see your health record
  • How we keep your records confidential

1.  Why we collect information about you

Mobile-Eyes-UK Ltd keeps records about your health and any treatment and care you receive from us.  These records help to ensure that you receive the best possible care.  They may be written down (manual records) or held on a computer.  These records may include:

  • Basic details about you, such as address, date of birth
  • Contact we have had with you such as eye examinations
  • Notes and reports about your health
  • Details and records about your treatment and care

Some of this information will be held centrally to be used for statistical purposes.  In these instances we take strict measures to ensure that individual patients cannot be identified.

This information will only be used with your consent, unless the law requires us to pass on the information.

2.  How your records are used:

Your records are used to guide and administer the care you receive to ensure that:

  • Your optometrist or other eyecare professional involved in your care has accurate and up to date information to assess your health and decide the most appropriate care for you
  • Your concerns can be properly investigated if a complaint is raised

We will ensure that appropriate information is available if you see another optometrist, or are referred to a specialist, your GP or another part of the NHS

You have a right of access to the information we hold about you on our records:

  • Your request must be made in writing to the Data Controller at our Head Office
  • We are required to respond to you within 40 days
  • You will need to give adequate information (for example full name, address, date of birth etc.,) so that your identity can be verified and your records located

If you think anything is inaccurate or incorrect, please let us know

3.  How your records may be used to help others:

Your information may also be used in the following ways:

  • To help protect the health of the public

  • To help us manage the organisation by being used:

    • To pay your optometrist for the care you receive

    • To audit accounts and services

    • To investigate patient queries, complaints and legal claims

    • To make sure our services can meet patients' needs in the future

    • To prepare statistics on our performance

    • To review the care we provide to ensure it is of the highest standards

The following will be with your consent:

  • To help in health research and development

  • To help teach healthcare professionals

4.  Copying letters to patients:

Patients now have the right to a copy of any letter written about them from one healthcare professional to another.  If you would like to receive a copy of your letter inform the optometrist during your appointment

5.  Freedom of Information Act 2000:

If you want any information about the organisation, which is not personal data, please ask for a senior manager when telephoning, or writing to us.

6.  How we keep your records confidential:

Everyone working for us has a legal duty to keep information about you confidential.

You may be receiving care from other people as well as the NHS (e.g. Social Services).  We may need to share some information about you with them so we can all work together for your benefit.  We will only ever pass information about you to them if:

  • They have a genuine need for it
  • We have your permission

We will not disclose your information to a third party without your permission unless there are exceptional circumstances, such as when the health and safety of others is at risk or if the law requires us to pass on information.

Anyone who receives information form us has a legal duty to keep it confidential

7.  What happens after a sight test?

  • If you need glasses, we will give you (or your carer, advocate or guardian) a copy of your prescription
  • If you do not need glasses, we will give you (or your carer, advocate or guardian) a copy of your prescription and a statement telling you this
  • If you need a report for your employer or other organisation, we will give the report to you to pass on.  If the report has to be sent directly, we will only do so with your written permission

8.  Who are our partner organisations?

We may share information with the following main partner organisations:

  • Health authorities
  • NHS Trusts
  • General Practitioners (GPs)

We may also share your information, subject to strict agreement about how it will be used, with:

  • Social Services
  • Education Services
  • Local Authorities
  • Voluntary Sector Providers
  • Private Sector Providers

9.  Notification:

The Data Protection Act 1998 requires organisations which store information in electronic form to lodge a notification with the Information Commissioner to describe the purpose for which they process personal information.

The details are publicly available form the Information Commissioner's office at:

Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wimslow, Cheshire, SK9 5AF Tel:  01625 545745

10.  Who is the Data Controller?

The Data Controller, responsible for keeping your information confidential is:

Mr Parag Patel, 28 Feversham Heights, Feversham Avenue, Bournemouth, Dorset, BH8 9NL