Professor Ben Burton, school president (Credit score: The Royal Faculty of Ophthalmologists)
The Royal Faculty of Ophthalmologists is main a name for the nationwide standardisation of digital well being information (EHRs) to enhance entry to care, improve outcomes, and enhance efficiencies throughout eye care providers.
Organisations representing professionals in major, secondary, NHS and unbiased care settings, together with the Faculty of Optometrists, Impartial Healthcare Suppliers Community (IHPN), and the Skilled File Requirements Physique (PRSB), are interesting for the constant use of outlined medical information fields in EHRs to report affected person histories.
In a place assertion, printed on 28 July 2025, says that the present fragmentation of EHR programs in eye care – characterised by information silos and poor interoperability – compromises affected person security and care continuity.
NHS trusts in England use at the least 21 completely different EHR programs, a lot of that are unable to share vital data, based on analysis by Imperial Faculty London.
Professor Ben Burton, president of the Royal Faculty of Ophthalmologists, stated: “For a while now, now we have recognised that joint working and standardisation are key to enhancing our sufferers’ expertise, and we’re happy to be working in collaboration with professionals throughout completely different eye care settings.
“The present lack of standardisation causes delays to diagnoses and coverings for sufferers and elevated workloads and inefficient working practices for optometrists and ophthalmologists.
“It’s clear that change and innovation are wanted, and we’re inspired to see this recognised by the federal government with the announcement of the only affected person report (SPR) within the 10 yr well being plan.”
The place assertion additionally flags that major care optometrists face challenges accessing and updating EHRs and NHS IT programs, which might hinder communication and collaboration – particularly when sufferers transfer between suppliers.
It says that this may end up in delays to care, rising ready lists, pointless referrals and duplication of assessments, in addition to elevating the chance of misdiagnosis and remedy errors.
Dr Gillian Rudduck MCOptom, president of the Faculty of Optometrists, stated: “With major care optometrists taking part in an vital and rising position within the supply of commissioned providers and multidisciplinary shared care schemes, getting access to standardised digital well being information is vital to enhancing affected person care and enabling efficient referrals, information sharing and communication.
“We stay up for collaborating with commissioners, builders and eye care professionals to make sure these suggestions are carried out.”
The place assertion recommends that policymakers fee eye care data requirements primarily based on datasets developed by the Royal Faculty of Ophthalmologists and the Faculty of Optometrists.
It additionally requires alignment of EHR programs with these requirements and the mandatory monetary funding and coaching of employees to gather and enter affected person data into EHRs.
Dr Howard Freeman, medical director at IHPN, stated: “Correct and up-to-date shared affected person information are a significant a part of delivering prime quality care, and as a significant supplier of eye take care of each NHS and personal sufferers, the unbiased sector is happy to be working with the Royal Faculty of Ophthalmologists to help requires the standardisation of digital well being care information – guaranteeing that sufferers expertise seamless care, no matter the place they obtained it.”
