All party group debates primary care reforms

In its July meeting, the All Party Parliamentary Group on Eye Health and Visual Impairment (APPG) welcomed the publication of the government white paper Equity and Excellence - Liberating the NHS (News 23.07.10).

Speaking at the meeting, Dr Susan Blakeney, optometric adviser to the College of Optometrists and three primary care trusts in Kent, said she welcomed the news that primary ophthalmic services would still be delivered nationally.

She also said that it would be extremely useful, particularly for practitioners like herself who work on the boundary of several PCTs, to have a clear understanding of what services patients were entitled to. Blakeney said the profession was still working to understand the likely implications of the paper, but she added that the College was looking forward to working with general practitioner consortia in further developing services.