Communities in focus at party conferences

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.