Overview
The Community Glaucoma Service (CGS) is a new national NHS service in Scotland that provides a means by which patients who have lower risk glaucoma or ocular hypertension, and who have been under the care of the Hospital Eye Service, may be discharged to receive care from CGS accredited providers in the community.
Accredited providers are optometrists included on Part 1 of the Health Board’s Ophthalmic List for General Ophthalmic Services purposes, and who have been registered with the Health Board to provide the CGS from specified practice premises.
Accredited providers will utilise the skills of accredited clinicians and assisting accredited clinicians, who are Independent Prescribing optometrists who have successfully completed the NHS Education for Scotland Glaucoma Award Training (NESGAT) qualification or have obtained NESGAT equivalency as determined by NES, and have been registered by the Health Board as an accredited clinician or assisting accredited clinician.
The CGS introduces patient registration for the first time within community optometry. Eligible patients will be registered with an accredited provider of choice in order to receive CGS services, and accredited providers will in turn receive registration fees.
The clinical care provided to patients will be supported by the national Ophthalmology Electronic Patient Record (OpenEyes), which CGS accredited clinicians and assisting accredited clinicians will have access to and use for the purposes of the CGS.
Further Information
The legislation for the CGS is the Optometry Enhanced Services (Community Glaucoma Service) (Scotland) Directions 2023, and further introductory information is set out in PCA(O)2022(06).
As set out in that circular and PCA(O)2023(01) and PCA(O)2023(04), the CGS will be implemented across Scotland on a Board by Board basis. In some instances, the rollout will take place at Health and Social Care Partnership level.
Key CGS documentation and support for professionals is available on the following webpages:
- Application, amendment and withdrawal forms
- Patient registration, deregistration and assessment forms
- Patient letters and information leaflets
- Additional support