Associations rally for primary care

The Association of Optometrists (AOP), Association of British Dispensing Opticians (ABDO) and FODO The Association for Eye Care Providers have joined forces with other primary care providers to lobby the government.

The Health and Care Bill being debated in Parliament would shift responsibility for managing primary NHS services, including primary optometry services, to Integrated Care Boards (ICB).

The Bill only required that each ICB includes a representative nominated by General Practice with no input from other primary care professions.

A joint statement from the associations said: ‘Optical practices and other primary care providers are vital to population health and care, and need a voice at all levels of the NHS in England.