Akeso were engaged by a London ICS to provide programme management expertise for a NHSx national pilot programme supporting the delivery of an Electronic Eyecare Referral System between community optometry and secondary care ophthalmology
INSIGHT
The Electronic Eyecare Referral System (EeRS) pilot, jointly commissioned by NHS England and NHS Improvement and NHSx in November 2020 was a pilot programme that sought to achieve:
- Electronic referral management between primary and secondary care
- The ability to share complex diagnostic images (e.g., Optical Coherence Tomography Scan (OCT scan)
ACTIONS
With EeRS being procured and managed on a regional basis, Akeso were engaged by a London ICS to support the roll-out of EeRS within the region.
Responsible for Programme Management, Akeso were responsible for end-to-end programme implementation accountable to the Programme Board and reporting back into NHSx.z
The Akeso project team were responsible for maintaining oversight of the budget, supplier and contract compliance, and working with a diverse stakeholder group from independent, private and NHS sectors.
With 6 workstreams including Information Governance, Communications, Clinical Safety, Digital Integration, Commissioning and Evaluation, Akeso ensured the project progressed to timeline, with the London region being a national exemplar, with the highest level of optometry engagement as well as being first-movers in implementing a technical integration into secondary care and resolving IG issues.
RESULTS
Owing to Akeso’s programme management support, the proof-of-concept EeRS programme in London was successfully evaluated at the end of Year 1, with a board decision to continue the programme.
The Akeso team facilitated an efficient project roll-off following a short-term extension into Year 2, with the Programme Management moving into BAU activity.
