In Focus: Industry responds to general election announcement

Healthcare and the burden on the NHS to reduce waiting times will be high on the agenda during campaigning for the UK’s general election on July 4, 2024. The optical profession has an opportunity to push primary eye care up the agenda and highlight how it could alleviate pressure on stretched services.

During an appearance on BBC Radio 4, the shadow health secretary, Wes Streeting (pictured right), said Labour would use high street optical practices in England to ease the pressure on hospital eye services.

He spoke about how the profession was ready to help with scans, check-ups and monitoring of conditions like glaucoma, and when writing in The Telegraph, he reiterated the role of optometry and said NHS partnerships with the private sector could go beyond hospitals.