Hughes speaks up for care pathways

Bob Hughes, the former chief executive of the Association of Optometrists, called on the Royal College of Ophthalmologists to join with optometry and optics to ensure the NHS can meet the future eye care needs of the country.

Speaking at the RCO conference in Liverpool last week, Hughes said chances to re-design eye care had been missed due to a focus on acute care and lack of cohesion among primary care trusts.

'The professions should develop a single national set of standards and pathways which can be taken up by GP commissioning consortia,' he said before urging the RCO, the College of Optometrists and patient agencies to endorse nationally approved quality standards and pathways.