The Association of Optometrists has set out its key demands for the government’s reform of the NHS in England.
As the Health and Care Bill entered the committee stage in Parliament, representative bodies from across NHS primary care, including the Optometric Fees Negotiating Committee, have been commenting on what they would like to see from the bill.
‘The new design framework for NHS integrated care systems offers important opportunities that optometry must capitalise on,’ said AOP chief executive Adam Sampson. ‘It is essential that optometry has a place at the table to input at a strategic level in order to create real transformation, reduce pressure on the NHS and deliver robust and sustainable eye care for all.’
The AOP’s demands for reform come as part of a wider move by representative bodies across NHS primary care settings and follow recommendations made in its Strategy for Optometry document, published in June.
In February, the AOP flagged potential risks from the reforms relating to general ophthalmic services (GOS) commissioning.