Eye care in need of government intervention

Evidence has mounted that optics must seize the opportunity to lobby for the modernisation of eye care services ahead of this year’s General Election.

UK Vision Strategy partners this week urged eye health and sight loss stakeholders to lobby their local parliamentary candidates in the lead up to the 2015 General Election.

The campaign, which follows the launch of a UK Vision Strategy General Election Manifesto (News 06.02.15), was non-party political but called on all parties to adopt policies to improve the delivery of eye care in the community.

Also this week, a new ‘white paper’ calling for urgent talks between optical clinicians and the Department of Health, to modernise NHS Sight Testing Services, has been shared with Optician. The current General Ophthalmic Services (GOS) was not fit for purpose in a modern healthcare system, it was noted.