Healthwatch champions role of optometry

Healthwatch England has called for greater use of high street opticians after its report, A strain on sight: waiting for NHS eye care, revealed people’s health was deteriorating amid long waits for specialist eye care.

Some 85% of 1,051 respondents supported the idea of optometrists referring patients without seeing a GP first and a further 65% added that they were comfortable with optometrists helping to monitor and treat eye conditions.

‘We know that highly skilled optometrists in the community are in every locality in England. Our survey shows overwhelming public support for better using this capacity,’ said Chris McCann, deputy chief executive at Healthwatch England.