Simon Jones reports
Labour shadow health minister Karin Smyth
UK optics has begun to have its say in response to the Labour Party’s plans to use high street optometry practices to deliver routine NHS ophthalmology outpatient appointments.
At an Institute for Government conference on January 23, Labour shadow health minister Karin Smyth said high street optical practices would be ‘put to work’ by a Labour government to bring down the 617,000 people now waiting for NHS ophthalmology appointments.
‘There are 6,000 high street opticians in England, equipped with specialist staff and kit that can get patients seen faster,’ said Smyth. ‘We will put them to work to beat the Tory backlog, free up hospital specialists to treat the patients in serious need, all at greater convenience to patients.
'I can announce today, the next Labour government will seek to negotiate a deal with high street opticians to deliver NHS outpatient appointments.’
Labour’s plan for the high street optometric workforce was just one of the ways the party would use the private sector to make the NHS more efficient. As Optician went to press, the Labour party had not responded to its request for further information on the proposed plans.
Professor Leon Davies, president, College of Optometrists
‘The College of Optometrists welcomes Labour’s proposed initiative to improve eye care delivery, while ensuring excellent patient care and reducing unnecessary sight loss. Enhanced national services, that effectively utilise the full skills and competencies of optometrists and colleagues working in primary eye care, would reduce the burden on current NHS hospital services and result in better outcomes for patients. We encourage all health decision-makers to continue to engage with us and other professional bodies, to achieve a well-informed strategy for eye health care that ensures all patients in England can access care close to home and without long waits.’
Giles Edmonds, clinical services director, Specsavers
‘NHS primary care optometrists are the “GPs of the eye” but there is so much more we could do to protect our patients’ sight, keep them safe and well, and take pressure off hospital services.
‘As a leading provider of NHS primary care ophthalmic services we welcome the Labour Party’s plan to make greater use of high street optometry services to cut waiting lists and provide more accessible and convenient care for patients, and stand ready to partner with NHS hospital eye services to improve patient care.’
Adam Sampson, chief executive, Association of Optometrists
‘We welcome the Labour Party’s focus on primary eye care. We are facing a health crisis in this country. This includes a hospital waiting list emergency, with growing numbers of patients facing avoidable and irreversible sight loss due to delays.
‘Labour have quite rightly acknowledged the important role of primary eye care services in the community in reducing the backlog and we are committed to helping wherever we can to design services that meet demand and the needs of patients.
‘Fixing eye care does not require years of investment in new facilities and staff training. Optometrists on the high street have the premises, the equipment and the clinical skills to deliver accessible, high-quality eye care. All it takes is the political vision to make sure optometry is able to provide the care patients need.’
Professor Ben Burton, president, Royal College of Ophthalmologists
‘Last year there were almost nine million ophthalmology outpatient attendances and 15 million NHS sight tests across the UK. With
this demand set to grow even higher as our population ages, it is essential that ophthalmology and optometry are supported to deliver more integrated care.
‘While expanding ophthalmology infrastructure and workforce capacity is essential and must be prioritised, we should also be making better use of the existing expertise and facilities in high street optical practices to manage stable, chronic conditions. The Labour Party’s announcement today is therefore a positive commitment to supporting eye care patients and we would offer our clinical expertise to shape this policy if delivered in government.’
Harjit Sandhu, managing director, Federation of Optometrists and Dispensing Opticians
‘Hospital colleagues in ophthalmology are under unsustainable pressure and patients are suffering avoidable sight loss due to delays in care. Primary eye care providers are happy to help in any way we can to provide more care outside of hospital and closer to home. Working together we can meet growing patient needs in a more sustainable way and most importantly help prevent sight loss due
to delays in care.
‘The national sight testing service is a vital part of the national public health infrastructure and one of the most efficient and successful parts of the NHS, which must be preserved. We all want to build on this solid foundation, making the best use of our highly skilled workforce and world-class primary eye care infrastructure. Now is the time to work together to ensure everybody in England can access the enhanced primary eye care services they need.’