18 February 2014
LOCSU has published a new Guide, aimed at Commissioners which explains the benefits of the LOC Company Model.
The Commissioners’ Guide to Primary Eyecare Companies, which has been sent to every Clinical Commissioning Group in England, outlines the benefits to commissioners in using a Company set up by a Local Optical Committee. Using successful case examples of Primary Eyecare Companies being used to improve local eye health services, the Guide demonstrates a number of benefits to commissioners including:
- the opportunity to work with optical practices in their area in order to give patients the best access to community services and choice of provider
- less complexity and cost - as commissioners can manage service via a single contract (instead of having to manage individual practitioner contracts).
The Guide also summarises how commissioning community eye health pathways can reduce pressure on existing NHS services and help prevent avoidable sight loss.
Katrina Venerus, Managing Director of LOCSU, said: “LOCSU created the LOC Company Model in 2008 ready for single provider commissioning. The Model is now used as a contracting vehicle to enable a network of local practices to deliver community services - capitalising on the NHS reforms. This guidance explains how Primary Eyecare Companies addresses commissioners’ needs by helping them meet their local health priorities and national targets as well as reduce the administrative burden through managing a single contract.
“More and more LOCs are finding that using the LOC Company Model helps them to win contracts for community eye health services. These services play an important role in the local optical sector and it is right that we do as much as possible to raise awareness of their benefits among commissioners.”
The Commissioners Guide to Primary Eyecare Companies can be found at www.locsu.co.uk.
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Media enquiries
Please contact Katrina Venerus, Managing Director, at katrinavenerus@locsu.co.uk or call 07769 682681.