Jeremy Miles MS, Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care
This statement updates Members about the significant progress made to rollout the Digital Eye Care programme, connecting primary and hospital-based eye care services. By the end of this month, thanks to the hard work of health boards, we will have achieved the digital foundations to modernise eye care services.
The Digital Eye Care programme supports closer links between hospital ophthalmology and primary care optometry under the Wales General Ophthalmic Services (WGOS) framework and provides the digital infrastructure needed to support workforce resilience, improve patient flow and manage clinical risk appropriately.
There are two core components to the programme:
- The national electronic patient record for eye care – OpenEyes
- The national electronic referral system – OPERAi
Together, they enable real‑time sharing of clinical information, consistent national referral and triage processes, and the safe expansion of WGOS levels 4 and 5 services. All health boards have implemented both systems – including onboarding optometrists to OPERAi – in full or in part.
Aneurin Bevan University Health Board
OpenEyes: The glaucoma module has been deployed in hospital ophthalmology clinics. It will be rolled out in other sub-specialties by 4 May, then extended to primary care.
OPERAi: Theophthalmology process mapping work will be completed by 6 June and the fully integrated digital referral pathways are scheduled to be live by 25 June, subject to final validation.
Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board
OpenEyes: The glaucoma module is scheduled to go live next week. It will then be rolled out to other sub-specialties by October 2026. Timelines for the rollout to primary care are being finalised.
OPERAi: The national pilot site for the system and the first to use OPERAi for live referrals. They will start from 30 March, with a fully integrated digital referral pathway in place by 1 May.
Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board
OpenEyes: The glaucoma module is live and it is being extend to other sub-specialties by the end of March. It will then be rolled out to primary care services.
OPERAi: Theophthalmology process mapping work will be completed by 6 June and the fully integrated digital referral pathways are scheduled to be live by 25 June, subject to final validation.
Cardiff and Vale University Health Board
OpenEyes: The system is fully rolled out in all ophthalmic subspecialties and live in primary care services.
OPERAi: The ophthalmology process mapping stage will be completed by 4 May and fully integrated referral pathways operational by 25 May.
Hywel Dda University Health Board
OpenEyes: It will be deployed to two hospital sub-specialty areas from 30 March, and then rolled out more widely by August 2026. Timelines for primary care roll-out are being finalised.
OPERAi: The ophthalmology process mapping stage will be completed by 4 May and fully integrated referral pathways operational by 25 May.
Powys Teaching Health Board
OpenEyes: Preparatory work to enable the system to be deployed in four sub-specialties in one hospital care site has been completed and roll out will start next month. Primary care roll out will be completed by March 2027.
OPERAi: The ophthalmology process mapping work will be completed by 6 June and the fully integrated digital referral pathways are scheduled to be live by 25 June, subject to final validation.
Swansea Bay University Health Board
OpenEyes: The system is live across all hospital eye care departments and primary care roll-out is due to be completed by 25 May.
OPERAi: The ophthalmology process mapping stage will be completed by 4 May and fully integrated referral pathways operational by 25 May.