The Association of Optometrists (AOP) called for ‘bold thinking’ and a ‘national approach’ in the design of a new standard service specification for minor and urgent eyecare.
Parliamentary under secretary of state for Primary Care and Public Health, Neil O’Brien, has invited the Local Optical Committee Support Unit (LOCSU) and the Clinical Council for Eye Health (CCEHC) to develop the service.
AOP chief executive Adam Sampson (pictured) said that the request marked a significant moment for optometry and that the AOP was committed to assist LOCSU and CCEHC wherever it could.
‘The development of this specification must be done at pace and with pragmatism, but this should not mean that ambition should be sacrificed. Bold thinking is needed to ensure that the scope of the services offered, and the associated pricing structure, are sustainable for optometry, while also meeting the needs of an ageing population.
‘Crucially, the standard service specification should be available everywhere and accessible to all. While some integrated care board areas have commissioned existing MECS and CUES, it is evident that commissioning is highly variable across the country. That is why we continue to advocate for a national approach that brings the postcode lottery of eye care to an end.’