The College of Optometrists has welcomed the extra funding promised for NHS England as a necessary step forward to help reduce waiting lists but calls on the government to prioritise funding towards primary eye care services to help tackle the ophthalmology backlog.
It is vital for more care to be delivered out of hospital and closer to home. Without this change, hospitals will continue to struggle to meet the needs of our ageing population and patients will continue to suffer avoidable harm.
Optometrists, as one of the four core pillars of primary care, are integral to reducing NHS pressures. They have an established and essential role providing effective eye care on the high street and serving on the frontline for secondary care. They are a key part of the NHS workforce and have the necessary clinical skills to provide more NHS services than they are currently commissioned to do.
Ophthalmic services in primary settings also require investment in optometry workforce development, to ensure a large enough workforce is retained in future years to meet the increasing demand for eye care.
The College of Optometrists strongly backs the government’s three key shifts for the NHS in England, all of which align with the strengths and potential of primary eye care. They need to be funded and implemented in the first phase of the NHS 10 Year Plan if pressures on hospital eye services are to be reduced, and NHS capacity is to be better aligned to meet growing patient need within this Parliament.
Dr Gillian Rudduck MCOptom, President of The College of Optometrists, said: “Investing in primary eye care services, optometry workforce development, digital connectivity improvement, and preventative initiatives will ensure that eye care services are accessible, timely, and of the highest quality. This will not only improve the quality of life for millions of people, but it will also provide both immediate and long-term benefits, including better use of resources and reduced impact sight loss has on individuals, society, and the economy.”
