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Bupa to extend its specialist network to ophthalmology
25 April 2006
Bupa Health Insurance has announced that it is creating a specialist network for ophthalmic services, which will be launched later in the year. The network will comprise both consultants and facilities and will ensure that Bupa members have access to consistently high standards of ophthalmic care wherever they are treated in the UK, by establishing a network of Bupa-approved consultants and facilities.
The launch of the Bupa Approved Ophthalmology Network comes on the back of the successful development of Bupa specialist networks for breast, bowel and gynaecological cancer and the recent creation of its out-patient MRI network.
The ophthalmology network will bring significant benefits to both Bupa members and to the medical profession. Members will be reassured that they are being treated by the most appropriate consultants in suitable clinical facilities, while having complete peace of mind that their health insurance will cover the full cost of their treatment. Approved hospitals, surgeons and anaesthetists will be recommended to GPs, opticians and Bupa members as providing consistently high standards of service, including the collection of clinical outcome information on patients’ experiences.
Bupa Health Insurance medical director, Dr Natalie Jane Macdonald, said: "We have consulted widely with professional bodies, including the Royal College Ophthalmologists and the Association of Anaesthetists, to establish evidence based quality and standards, building on existing guidelines.
"The quality of health care our members receive is our first priority and we will also be looking at value for money of services offered by providers as this helps ensure that subscriptions remain affordable both for existing Bupa members and for potential future customers.
"Bupa currently funds about 21,000 ophthalmology procedures and 100,000 ophthalmology consultations every year and in 2004 we spent £32 million on ophthalmic services for our members. We want to ensure that in each of these cases patients are being treated in an appropriate setting, receiving the best possible care."
Consultants and hospitals who have carried out ophthalmic services for Bupa will receive letters inviting them to apply to join the specialist network this week. All providers and consultants are invited to email ophthalmology@bupa.com for further information. Bupa will be holding a series of regional forums for consultants during May to provide further information on the network.
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