A New Zealand Association of Optometrists (NZAO) survey has shown its members want to provide more community care to reduce waiting times and improve eye health outcomes. The response was prompted by the imminent restructuring of the district health boards (DHBs) which led the NZAO to ask members how they thought eyecare could be improved for all New Zealanders, regardless of postcode.
As to how they could best provide more community care, optometrists’ answers ranged from more driver screening and school vision testing to subsidies for the elderly and the general population, and more DHB-funded glaucoma co-management. The main potential benefits of these initiatives included less pressure on DHB staff, reduced waiting times and backlogs and more accessible eyecare for patients. Some of the issues noted, however, were: ‘clunky’ and inefficient referral systems; poor communication issues between providers; DHBs having different requirements; some regions lacking hospital optometrists for acute care; and renumeration not being at market rates, said NZAO executive Peter Anderson. “The results of the survey are not surprising. The NZAO council will continue to advocate for the profession within the larger landscape of New Zealand’s healthcare system, especially with these new changes on the horizon.”
Further discussions will determine if the working models identified in the survey can be delivered to the Ministry of Health’s new Health and Disability Review Transition Unit, he said. “We have set aside time at the December council meeting. This will coincide with a better understanding of what the new health system will look like and which stakeholders we should be focussing our attention on.”
