AOP welcomes calls for urgent reform

The Association of Optometrists (AOP) has welcomed the latest call from Sir Stephen Powis, medical director of NHS England, for a shift towards community-based care.

During a speech at the Liverpool Medical Institution, Sir Stephen Powis warned that without urgent reform, it was expected nearly half the population could end up in A&E annually by 2034.

Adam Sampson, chief executive of the AOP, said: ‘We welcome Sir Stephen’s clear message on shifting more care from hospitals to the community.’

He went on to highlight the AOP’s commissioned PA Consulting report which indicated that at least two million appointments a year could be freed up by bringing high street optometry into the equation.