The importance of the role communities can play in healthcare was highlighted by the Optical Confederation at what it described as a ‘strong showing’ during political party conference season.
At a series of fringe events held alongside the main party conferences, the Confederation, in association the National Community Hearing Association, British Society of Hearing Aid Audiologists and Pharmacy Voice, sought to raise awareness of the key role of non-medical primary care in maintaining the health and wellbeing of local communities.
The Confederation described the reaction from councillors and political decision makers that took part as positive, but some, such as co-chair of the Parliamentary committee on health and social care, Baroness Jolly, were reported to have told delegates that more needed to be done in publicising the role community health services could play.
Shadow health minister of State for Health Jamie Reed MP added that community services such as pharmacies were ‘social capital’ and often the only community resource in deprived estates.
Sir Anthony Garrett, speaking on behalf of the Confederation, said: ‘We have been working hard with government, MPs and Parliament, as well as local councils to get the message about eye health across. We’re proud this time round to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with our colleagues from pharmacy and hearing care. It’s clear that an integrated and patient focused NHS will increasingly utilise the expertise of community primary care providers to support the hard work of GPs and the hospital sector.’
Also speaking on behalf of the Confederation, David Hewlett added: ‘The potential of the non-medical primary care services has scarcely been tapped so far and we call on the government, through its ‘Call to Action’ and development of a new strategic framework for primary care, to maximise this potential for the benefit of the public and to safeguard the NHS.’