Meeting Minutes of the Vision 2020UK
VISION 2020 (UK) Limited:
Registered Charity Number 1146746
Meeting minutes of the Vision 2020UK
Learning Disability Sub Group
10 September 2013 Guide Dogs, Walken House,Melton Street Euston
Present: Paula Spinks-Chamberlain - PSC (SeeAbility), Rachel Pilling – RFP (RCOphth, Chair), Bruce Gilson – BG (The Optical Bodies & LOCSU: co-chair), Pamela Bowen PB(BIOS), Jennifer Brower – JB (ABDO), Matt Broom MB(V2020UK) Stephen Kill (SK) SeeAbility.
Apologies:
Linda Mitchell
Kathryn Saunders
Lee Stanway
Beverly Dawkins
Jane Leitch
1. Welcome, introductions and Apologies
Lee Stanway was welcomed in his absence. A short biography is appended to the minutes
2. Declarations of Interest
nil
3. Future meetings – venue tbc: all starting 1030
Wednesday 4 December 2013
Tuesday 11 March 2014
Wednesday 11 June 2014
Tuesday 16 September 2014
Wednesday 3 December 2014
4. Minutes of the Last Meeting
The minutes were approved as a true record.
5. Matters Arising
5.1RFP confirmed there had been an improvement in communications.
5.2Case studies for people with learning disability and challenging behaviour. PSC reported she has not had any contact further from Gemma– to postpone til next meeting
PSC to continue to pursue via BD
5.3Dispensing for people with learning disability/ meeting with Voiceability (a national advocacy group). JB reported difficulty in finding the right person to talk to regarding a wider picture, in particular importance of appropriate dispensing for adults with learning disability by a registered DO or OO. JB highlighted a recent Law commission review of the issue of spectacle by non qualified people and that this may open the door to highlight special case for learning disability.
JB to liaise with Scott Watkin for a contact.
5.4BIOS functional assessment for children in special schools
PB reported that development is still in progress. Some work had been done at a recent clinical meeting and she hopes to report further progress with AD in next 6 months.
5.5NIHR bid to evaluate effectiveness of in-school vision interventions for children in special education KS to report at next meeting
5.6SeeAbility Children’s Campaign
PSC gave a detailed update on the new SeeAbility Campaign.
Eye2Eye campaign has now been retired, but the work continues.
The new campaign is concerned with eye care and vision for children with disabilities, focusing on schools. A scoping report was developed over the Summer. The campaign is focusing on England and information from a 2013 school census uncovered 1000 special schools with 98500 children with disabilities nationally
(It was acknowledged that there are also kids with disabilities in mainstream schools) The project has NRES (National Research Ethics Service) approval through Cardiff University.
There has been engagement with a communications company to facilitate dissemination of the message and lobbying. The target is to undertake10000 sight tests across UK over 5 years period in order to develop and test a service model for others areas to adopt.
Outcomes in terms of improvement in visual function, independence and educational attainment will be collected (the absence of this data was seen as a weakness of the Clear Vision project).This will be used to produce evidence to go to government, health and others to support national policy.
The in-school teams will comprise orthoptists, optometrists and assistants, and will involve schools nurses.There will be training for learning assistants/school teams to raise awareness of visual loss and functional visual assessments. A separate piece of work will take place around transition issues. A 5 question cerebral visual impairment screening tool has been developed.
Alistair Riedl (project development officer) has observed practice across the country with various professionals. Marek Karas has been appointed as optometrist clinical lead. Nathan Davies ( who worked on A Clear Vision project)is being appointed to lead on the survery of all 1000 special schools and to establish a way to evaluate the impact of the intervention. In addition there will be 2 sessional optometrists, Lisa Donaldson and Louise Stalker.
In Year 1 Seeability will facilitate 300 sight tests in 5 London schools. Reception age children and school leavers have MDT assessment. All other children will see an optometrist, and then are referred to MDT at a threshold level.
Year 2 – 2014/5 project roll out in the North of England
The team have been producing a children’s version of “telling optometrist about me” form, developing an accreditation process/ training and creating a “sight test story” with pictures to help children to take part, all of which it is hoped will be adopted nationally as individual areas commission the service. This material will be launched on the SeeAbility website.
The issues around issue of GOS/spectacle prescribing are being addressed at DH and NHS England level. Although a dispensing optician will not be present at every visit, they will be available for individuals in whom there is an anticipated difficulty in fitting frames.
National Steering/advisory group to be formulated in the near future.
PSC to consider using one of these meetings and inviting others
PSC to liaise with Vision 2020 Children and Young Peoples group on 21 October
RFP to report to RCOphth paediatric sub committee
5.7Recruitment of GP/hospital optometrist to committee – KS happy to represent this group and will seek confirmation from College of Optometrists
5.8Waqar Shah was approached regarding acting in an advisory capacity for the committee. Although initially a positive response was received, ultimately he felt that he had inadequate time at present to offer this role.
The committee will continue to be on the lookout for a suitable representative from primary care.
6. Stephen Kill update on LOCSU pilot
The LOCSU Learning Disabiltiy pathway was launched in April 2012., the key components of which are additional funding for a longer sight test, forms to facilitate communication and training to refresh skills. LOCSU have provided funding for a pilot of 100 examinations to enhance uptake and establish feasibility and outcomes to influence local commissioning elsewhere in England. The Triborough project involves Kensington and Chelsea, Westminster and Hammersmith and Fulham.
The key to success of the project is seen as having an optometrist advisor and LOC to disemminate information and LDHFT to recruit patients. There were 33 individual expressions of interest and there are16 practices who will be involved in the project.
Local awareness raising events for pwld and carers have been arranged and training for optometrists begins this month.
BG is constructing a business although it is proving a challenge in terms of definite numbers of service users and potential uptake rates. The importance of local (rather than national) uptake of the scheme was highlighted as it is links with local groups to encourage attendance which is the key to success.
SK was thanked and has agreed to attend subsequent meetings to update on progress.
7. The Eyecare journey for people with learning disabilities: problems and solutions
RFP acknowledged the hard work of all committee members in getting the document to this stage. There are still areas which require updating, in particular PSC and SK can add sections in and BG and JB feel that the RAG colour grading for some optometric elements might be upgraded from amber and green.
RFP requested that all members send amendments to her for inclusion.
RFP suggested that each member pick 2 “amber” statements and 2 “red” statements from their areas of expertise, along with suggestions of how to facilitate transition towards green. This will then form the basis of the work plan for the next three years. Suggestions of interested parties who might be invited to the meetings to discuss aspects of LD eye care would be welcomed.
RFP will draft a letter to MB around the achievements to date of the committee and the new work plan to be shared with the new Vision 2020 Board.
8. Love your Vote campaign
MB talked to this initiative and pertinent issues around accessing the vote for people with visual impairment and LD. The positive aspect of people with learning disability lobbying parliament was highlighted.
9. Quality standard for ophthalmic services
RFP updated the committee on a recent development with Royal College of Ophthalmologists who have agreed to facilitate development of quality standards for hospital ophthalmic services.
RFP will draw up draft statements and circulate for the committee to consider.
10.AOB
PSC and SK highlighted the recent launch of the EasyRead Eye surgery support plan which facilitates liaison between members of the health care team in planning surgery for people with learning disability.
PSC announced that there will be an EasyRead leaflet on cerebral visual impairment will be launched in the near future.
11. Next Meeting 4 December 2013, 1030am, Guide Dogs, Melton Street Euston.
Chair’s signature
Date10 Sept 2013