Vision screening of 4 to 5 year olds at school entry

The request was partially successful.

The College of Optometrists

Dear FOI officer

The British and Irish Orthoptic Society on behalf of the Clinical Council for Eye Health Commissioning are writing to make an open request for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

There is a national recommendation, by the UK National Screening committee, to offer orthoptic-led vision screening to children at aged 4-5 years, mainly to ensure that amblyopia (reduced vision), is detected and treated at an age where treatment has the potential to improve vision.

Public Health England introduced service specifications for a Vision Screening Service in 2017. We are concerned that a Vision Screening service is currently not being offered to all children aged 4-5 years in England leading to inequality of eye health care provision.

We are aware that the responsibility for commissioning 0 - 5 year children’s public health services has transferred from the NHS to Local Authorities; and that in addition there are to be significant cuts to Local Authority Public Health funding which may affect these services

We would be grateful if you could answer the following questions (for the financial year 2019/2020) to determine the arrangements made by your local authority to commission vision screening for your eligible resident population and it’s quality assurance.

We look forward to hearing from you.
Yours sincerely,
Olivier Denève
Secretary to the Clinical Council for Eye Health Commissioning

Questions

1. Do you currently commission vision screening in school of children aged 4-5 years old? Y / N

If YES, would you please:

2. List the key features of your commissioned screening service:

a. Settings (e.g. school).
b. Screening personnel (e.g. orthoptist, school nurse or other health professional).
c. The onward care pathway for children who fail the vision screening.
d. The quality assurance (QA) processes (audit) and identified clinical lead for the vision screening service

3. Tell us how you monitor if every child in your Local Authority has been tested (including those in private schools or those who are home-schooled).

4. Tell us whether the programme will be commissioned again in the next financial year

5. If NO- you do not currently commission a vision screening service in your area, would you please tell us :

a. why you do not commission vision screening?
b. whether a service is planned for the next financial year (2020/21)?
c. whether an existing service in your area has been recently decommissioned?

Birmingham City Council

 
 
 
 
Information request
Our reference: 7607365
Your reference: [FOI #586364 email]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dear Sir/Madam 
 
Freedom of Information Act 2000
 
Thank you for your request for information that was received on 3 July
2019 as follows:  

The British and Irish Orthoptic Society on behalf of the Clinical Council
for Eye Health Commissioning are writing to make an open request for
information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

There is a national recommendation, by the UK National Screening
committee, to offer orthoptic-led vision screening to children at aged 4-5
years, mainly to ensure that amblyopia (reduced vision), is detected and
treated at an age where treatment has the potential to improve vision.

Public Health England introduced service specifications for a Vision
Screening Service in 2017. We are concerned that a Vision Screening
service is currently not being offered to all children aged 4-5 years in
England leading to inequality of eye health care provision.

We are aware that the responsibility for commissioning 0 - 5 year
children's public health services has transferred from the NHS to Local
Authorities; and that in addition there are to be significant cuts to
Local Authority Public Health funding which may affect these services

We would be grateful if you could answer the following questions (for the
financial year 2019/2020) to determine the arrangements made by your local
authority to commission vision screening for your eligible resident
population and it's quality assurance.

We look forward to hearing from you.
Yours sincerely,
Olivier Denève
Secretary to the Clinical Council for Eye Health Commissioning

Questions

1. Do you currently commission vision screening in school of children aged
4-5 years old? Y / N

If YES, would you please:

2. List the key features of your commissioned screening service:

a. Settings (e.g. school).
b. Screening personnel (e.g. orthoptist, school nurse or other health
professional).
c. The onward care pathway for children who fail the vision screening.
d. The quality assurance (QA) processes (audit) and identified clinical
lead for the vision screening service

3. Tell us how you monitor if every child in your Local Authority has been
tested (including those in private schools or those who are
home-schooled).

4. Tell us whether the programme will be commissioned again in the next
financial year

5. If NO- you do not currently commission a vision screening service in
your area, would you please tell us :

a. why you do not commission vision screening?
b. whether a service is planned for the next financial year (2020/21)?
c. whether an existing service in your area has been recently
decommissioned?...
 
We are dealing with your request under the Freedom of Information Act
2000 and we aim to send a response by 31 July 2019.
 
In some case, a fee may be payable. If we decide a fee is payable, we will
send you a fee notice and we will require you to pay the fee before
proceeding with your request.
 
The Freedom of Information Act 2000 may restrict the release of some or
all of the information you have requested. We will carry out an assessment
and if any exemptions apply to some or all of the information then we
might not provide that information to you. We will inform you if this is
the case and advise you of your rights to request an internal review and
to complain to the Information Commissioner's Office.
 
We will also advise you if we cannot provide you with the information
requested for any other reason together with the reason(s) why and details
of how you may appeal (if appropriate).
 
Yours faithfully
 
 
Mary Grant
Adults Social Care
464 4327
[email address]
 
 
 
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Birmingham City Council

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Information request
Our reference: 7607365
Your reference: [FOI #586364 email]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dear Sir/Madam 
 
Thank you for your request for information received on 3 July 2019.
 
Please find attached our response to your request.
 
Yours faithfully
 
 
Governance and Compliance
[1][email address]
 
 
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NOTE: Please do not edit the subject line when replying to this email.
BIRMINGHAM CITY COUNCIL DISCLAIMER This email contains proprietary
confidential information some or all of which may be legally privileged
and/or subject to the provisions of privacy legislation. It is intended
solely for the addressee. If you are not the intended recipient, an
addressing or transmission error has misdirected this e-mail; you must not
use, disclose, copy, print or disseminate the information contained within
this e-mail. Please notify the author immediately by replying to this
email. Any views expressed in this email are those of the individual
sender, except where the sender specifically states these to be the views
of Birmingham City Council. This email has been scanned for all viruses
and all reasonable precautions have been taken to ensure that no viruses
are present. Birmingham City Council cannot accept responsibility for any
loss or damage arising from the use of this email or attachments.
***********************************************************************

***********************************************************************

The information contained within this e-mail (and any attachment) sent by
Birmingham City Council is confidential and may be legally privileged. It
is intended only for the named recipient or entity to whom it is
addressed. If you are not the intended recipient please accept our
apologies and notify the sender immediately. Unauthorised access, use,
disclosure, storage or copying is not permitted and may be unlawful. Any
e-mail including its content may be monitored and used by Birmingham City
Council for reasons of security and for monitoring internal compliance
with the office policy on staff use. E-mail blocking software may also be
used. Any views or opinions presented are solely those of the originator
and do not necessarily represent those of Birmingham City Council. We
cannot guarantee that this message or any attachment is virus free or has
not been intercepted and amended.

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