General Election: Sector has its say

Optics has started to react to the announcement of a general election on July 4 2024. After months of speculation as to when the general would be held, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced the July 4 polling date yesterday (May 22).

The AOP has called for the next government to renew its focus on primary care systems and transform healthcare for patients.

Ahead of the general election on July 4, the AOP’s chief executive Adam Sampson said swift and efficient action was required to address the cracks in the healthcare system.

‘Optometry is primed and ready to reduce the pressure on services which are buckling under the demand – too often at the expense of patients. Healthcare that is patient-first needs to be a priority and that means the consistent commissioning of clinical care in the community that is convenient, quicker, and closer to home. We need to end the postcode lottery of eye care in England,’ Sampson said.