A COMMUNITY-BASED ophthalmology service has been awarded a three-year contract to provide community ophthalmology services across Dorset.

CHEC (Community Health and Eye Care) commenced seeing patients on the April 1, initially from three facilities in Poundbury, Bournemouth, Poundbury and Christchurch. The specific aim of the service is to provide access to eye care for low to medium risk eye conditions in community settings, which will allow CHEC to expand its community ophthalmology offer to the south west, and increase investment in local community health services.

CHEC will be working closely with the leading optometry practices across the county to deliver crucial services to local patients in need of care for minor eye conditions, glaucoma monitoring and post cataract surgery follow-ups.

The new contract will help local patients access further services, such as CHEC’s free Home to Hospital transportation, which allows patients travel to and from consultations and surgery, making appointments more efficient and accessible. Patients in Dorset will also be able to utilise CHEC’s brand-new app. Its unique booking system assists patients in booking suitable times, making ophthalmology services more efficient by minimising cancellations and missed appointments. Throughout the pandemic, CHEC has provided much needed support to the NHS as a trusted partner and has received positive feedback with 99% of patients happy to recommend CHEC to friends and family.

The deal with NHS Dorset CCG marks CHEC’s first move into the South West, following expansions in the Midlands with new sites in Northampton, Leicester, Nottingham and Coventry, ensuring that residents across the country have access to local, high-quality care.

Jon Dore, Chief Operating Officer at CHEC, said: “We will seek to further improve ophthalmology services in Dorset following the announcement of the launch of our services across the county in Bournemouth, Poundbury and Christchurch. It is important for us to ensure patients are getting the best service possible in their local community. At CHEC, we are committed to bringing high-quality, responsive eyecare to all parts of the UK, so that it is accessible for all, and we want to give back by building long-standing partnerships that will benefit our local communities.”