Northern Ireland Eyecare Network (NIEN)
Northern Ireland Eyecare Network
The Northern Ireland Eyecare Network is the successor to the very successful five-year Developing Eyecare Partnerships (DEP) Project, which was implemented in 2012 to improve how eyecare services were commissioned and delivered in Northern Ireland. RQIA published a review of the implementation of the DEP Strategy in October 2019 and recommended that the Department of Health should establish an Eyecare Network, to continue the work commenced by the DEP Project. The Eyecare Network’s aim is “to reduce preventable sight loss by ensuring regionally integrated planning, commissioning, delivery, performance management, and funding of eyecare in Northern Ireland.”
The Northern Ireland Eyecare Network was formally constituted in January 2021, following recommendations from the RQIA review of the Developing Eyecare Partnerships Project.
The Network is hosted by the Strategic Planning and Performance Group (SPPG) with leadership from:
- Strategic Planning and Performance Group;
- Public Health Agency;
- Clinicians from the two provider Trusts for Eyecare Services – Belfast Health and Social Care Trust and Western Health and Social Care Trust;
- RNIB
The principle aim of the NI Eyecare Network is:
“To reduce preventable sight loss by ensuring regionally integrated planning, commissioning, delivery, performance management, and funding of eyecare in Northern Ireland.”
Workstreams have been developed to focus on:
- Clinical pathways
- Prevention of sight loss/early intervention
- Quality
- Workforce
- Digital health
The Network has agreed a lean systems methodology whereby each workstream will bring together small, focused, task and finish groups to deliver targeted service improvements efficiently. There will not be a static Network/workstream ‘membership’ but professionals from across the health and social care system, patients, and other stakeholders will be involved fluidly in individual pieces of work, wherever they can make a contribution.