In focus: Eye care services demand urgent attention

High street optics has whole-heartedly backed a new report by the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Eye Health and Visual Impairment, and with good reason.

Soon after its release last week, the Optical Confederation once again stressed that moving non-emergency services into high-street optical practices could solve the crisis of overburdened hospital eye departments.

The case has been made for some time now, but See the Light: Improving capacity in NHS eye care in England has rounded up evidence from across the sector and tabled concrete recommendations with the Department of Health.

Well known members of the APPG, chaired by MP Jim Shannon, included co-chair Lord Low of Dalston and Lord Blunkett. Their recommendations were backed up by optical bodies who recognised the need for urgent reform and launched at a Parliamentary reception for MPs last week.