A pioneering eye health project in Gloucestershire has been honored with an award for its innovative approach that is not only transforming patient care but also saving significant costs for the National Health Service (NHS). The project, which was the first of its kind in the country when it was launched three years ago, won the Most Impactful Use of Technology on Clinical Practice category at the Health Service Journal Partnership Awards 2025.
The system, OphthalSuite Community Ophthalmic Link, developed by BlueWorks OIMS alongside NHS Gloucestershire, Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, and Gloucestershire Local Optical Committee, empowers community optometrists with quick and secure access to patient’s eye health records. This unprecedented collaboration has ensured the delivery of joined up care closer to home while significantly reducing the burden on hospital resources.
Launched in 2022, the project has already demonstrated remarkable outcomes. Community optometrists can now access real-time secondary care (hospital) eye examination results and search comprehensive information and statistics, thereby enabling better-informed decision-making. Moreover, clinicians have secure access to view a patient’s complete ophthalmology data, leading to improved referrals and a higher quality of care across the county.
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Kerry O’Hara, Programme Director, Clinical Programmes at NHS Gloucestershire, expressed pride in the project’s impact, noting, “This award recognizes the difference we can make working in partnership, benefiting patients with care closer to home and reducing travel to hospital, ultimately improving the optometry care experience in Gloucestershire.”
Dr. Graham Mennie, clinical lead for the programme for NHS Gloucestershire, emphasized the significance of collaborative efforts, stating, “Our Ophthalmic Link Project shows how much difference we can make when we work together as a system. This award is for everyone who has helped make this project happen.”
Scott Vallance, Head of Ophthalmic Vision and Science at Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, highlighted the project’s positive outcomes, saying, “This project has bridged gaps across eyecare, using technology to improve access and outcomes for our patients.”
Ankur Trivedi, Member of Gloucestershire Local Optical Committee, hailed the project’s impact on operations, noting, “The Community Ophthalmic Link (COL) is revolutionizing the way community optical practices operate in our county, saving time and enhancing patient care.”
The success of the project underlines the potential for technology-driven solutions to revolutionize healthcare, delivering improved outcomes while driving cost efficiencies for health systems.