A strategy for the future of primary eye care has been published by the Federation of Optometrists and Dispensing Opticians (Fodo).
The document outlined principles and priorities that built on the foundations of primary eye care in the UK. It also called for more to be done to ensure patients could access ‘the right care in the right place at the right time’ to tackle avoidable sight loss and meet a growing need.
Harjit Sandhu, Fodo’s managing director, said: ‘Principles and priorities is based on a long history of innovation in primary eye care services and set outs our vision for the future. The four nations of the UK must tackle the root causes of avoidable sight loss to ensure that every UK citizen can preserve good sight as long as possible as part of a healthy and enjoyable life.
‘Our vision, developed through our members, who provide the majority of primary eye care in the UK, is to protect and expand high quality, accessible and sustainable care for patients across the UK. Our route map shows how we will do it.’
Fodo’s strategy outlined five principles that it would work towards with members, these included: delivering universal access to responsive and safe eye care services; working in the best interest of patients; protecting and promoting patient choice; support innovation based on evidence; and maintaining the UK’s high quality eye care infrastructure for the public benefit.
Enhanced services
The association also set goals to achieve by working with governments and sector partners, which included: tackling preventable sight loss due to delays in care; protecting and advancing core primary eye care services; supporting new models of enhanced primary eye care services; protecting patient benefits and increasing patient education; optimising the workforce; maximising technology and innovation.
Fodo said it would work with patient groups and other stakeholders to achieve its goal of tackling preventable sight loss caused by delays in care.
The professional body intended to protect and advance core primary care services by preserving the Opticians Act and associated regulations, as well as continuing its involvement in general ophthalmic services negotiations.
It would tackle health inequalities by improving access to eye care for homeless people and people who depend on domiciliary eye care services. Furthermore, Fodo would support optical practices who specialised in providing world-class sight testing.
Primary eye care providers that sought to expand its range of services to meet patient needs would be supported and Fodo called on the NHS to fund and commission enhanced services to end variation in access to eye care.
The association said it would champion patients’ rights to choose a provider and evidence-based care for themselves and their families. It would also protect patient access, particularly for vulnerable groups, to affordable eyewear and NHS support for vision correction.
It would continue to work with charities and public health teams to increase understanding of the importance of eye examinations. Furthermore, it would embrace equality, diversity and inclusion across the sector.
To achieve its goal of optimising the workforce, Fodo said it would continue working with the General Optical Council, higher education institutes and sector partners, including work to secure a sustainable and inclusive eye care workforce. It would support and promote opportunities for optometrists and dispensing opticians to fulfil resident roles in practice.
Additionally, Fodo would explore how to accommodate changing working practices to help eye care professionals meet complex and professionally rewarding workloads as more patients present with complex conditions in primary eye care settings. To achieve this, support from well-trained ophthalmic technicians and optical assistants was required.
Fodo sought to embrace and encourage innovation developed by its members, as well as liaise with NHS bodies to provide IT development and support that ensured patients benefited from joined-up care.
A sustainable future
Sarah Joyce, chair of Fodo, said it was paramount the sector acted now to ensure the eye care system was sustainable and could meet the needs of an ageing population.
‘Primary eye care providers in the UK already deliver world-class services, but we have the skills, training, equipment and facilities to do more. With hospital eye departments overwhelmed and hundreds of thousands of patients on waiting lists, the logical healthcare solution is to make greater use of greener primary eye care close to home.
‘Principles and priorities, which brings together the views and thinking of primary eye care providers, showcases what is already happening and describes how this can be improved and expanded to meet the UK’s increasing eye care need now and in the future,’ Joyce said.