Credit: FreePik

The Eye Health National Clinical Network is advancing work on a nationally consistent model for optometry-led postoperative care following cataract surgery, with Health New Zealand (HNZ) asking it to push ahead with work on procurement and funding models.

“Public funding to outsource cataract patients’ final post-surgery follow up to community optometrists would potentially free up 10,000 appointments in public hospitals per year and would allow for about 5,000 new patient appointments in the public system,” said national co-lead for the network Dr Justin Mora. “There are other advantages for patients who wouldn’t need to come to the hospital again for their final check-up, saving them time and money going to their local optometrist.”

Next, the network has been tasked with clarifying procurement and funding models, informing local implementation. “Challenges persist with fragmented procurement arrangements, difficulties integrating electronic medical records and inconsistent follow-up reporting. While regional contracting offers local flexibility and stronger relationships with optometrists, a nationally coordinated strategy may offer improved equity and access to funding,” said Dr Mora.

Launched in March 2024, the Eye Health National Clinical Network is one of about 20 networks initiated by HNZ to provide governance from clinical voices in different specialties. “Having the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists’ strategic roadmap toward eye health equity, Te Kitenga Vision 2030, has given the Eye Health Network a huge headstart as it had already clarified many of the initiatives required to achieve that goal,” Dr Mora said.

When appointed, the national co-leads Dr Mora and Drs Sarah Welch and Alistair Papali'i-Curtin insisted on renaming the then Ophthalmology National Clinical Network to the Eye Health National Clinical Network and recommended bringing in the other disciplines – optometrists, orthoptists, nurses and community and Māori representation, said Dr Mora.

As a result, the network has wide representation also including: Drs Elizabeth Conner, Erica Doucet, Sam Kain and Keith Small (regional ophthalmologist leads); Renate Watene, New Zealand Association of Optometrists (NZAO) president, optometrist and professional teaching fellow at the University of Auckland; Hadyn Treanor, optometrist and NZAO immediate past president; Deborah Chan, optometrist; Carly Henley, orthoptist and Greenlane Hospital allied health lead; Kath Millichamp, nurse practitioner; and Chrissie Cowan, Eye Health Aotearoa co-chair and CEO of Kāpō Māori Aotearoa.