Vision screening of 4 to 5 year olds at school entry

Gateshead Metropolitan Borough Council did not have the information requested.

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?

CSG InformationRights, Gateshead Metropolitan Borough Council

Dear Mr Deneve

I refer to the request, which you have made under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 for records held by this service.

Acknowledgement

Your request was received by this department on 04 July 2019.

A final decision on your request would normally be sent to you within 20 working days of receipt of your request. This means that you can expect to receive your decision by 01 August 2019.

There are some limited situations under the Freedom of Information Act, which could mean that the period for a final decision may be longer than the normal 20 working days. If this occurs in your request, we will promptly advise you in writing.

Yours sincerely
Information Rights Officer

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Paul Gray, Gateshead Metropolitan Borough Council

1 Attachment

My Ref: CC54021

Dear Mr Deneve

Subject: Freedom of Information - Care, Wellbeing and Learning - Public Health

I refer to the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and to your email/letter to this service dated 4 July 2019.

In accordance with the Freedom of Information Act, we are able to grant access to the records requested and accordingly they are as follows:

Please see attached.

Please note:
The information provided in response to your request is copyright Gateshead Council unless otherwise endorsed. Granting access to this information under the Freedom of Information Act does not permit you to re-use the information provided for commercial purposes, for photocopying or reproduction in any form. If you wish to re-use the information you need to apply for a Licence. You can do this by writing to Information Rights Officer, Corporate Services and Governance, 1st Floor, Civic Centre, Regent Street, Gateshead, NE8 1HH or email [Gateshead Council request email]. You may be required to pay a fee or comply with conditions for permitted re-use.

Should you have any queries regarding the contents of this letter, please contact Paul Gray on 0191 433 2929.

Yours sincerely

Paul Gray

Paul Gray
Public Health Programme Lead

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Public Health Team
Gateshead Council
Regent Street
Gateshead
NE8 1HH

Telephone: 0191 433 2929
Email: [email address]

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