Essential eye care update

As the pandemic has progressed, more patients have eye care needs that count as essential care due to a broadening of its definition.

The Optometric Fees Negotiating Committee (OFNC) highlighted that NHS England’s letter on April 1 enabled practitioners to exercise their professional judgement to determine whether a patient’s needs are essential.

NHS England’s letter said: ‘…this includes but is not limited to appointments for patients who would not normally be considered to be emergencies, but where, in the practitioner’s professional judgement, a delay in an examination may be detrimental to a patient’s sight or wellbeing. This may include where patients have broken or lost their glasses or contact lenses and need a replacement pair to function.’