Labour makes eye care commitment

Shadow health minister Karin Smyth MP said the Labour Party would negotiate a deal with optical practices to deliver outpatient appointments.

Speaking at the Institute for Government annual conference on January 23, Smyth said Labour wanted to move more care out of hospital and closer to home.

By working with the eye care sector, Labour said it wanted to cut waiting lists and provide more convenient care for patients, which was welcomed by the Federation of Optometrists and Dispensing Opticians (Fodo).

Harjit Sandhu, managing director at FODO, said: ‘Hospital colleagues in ophthalmology are under unsustainable pressure and patients are suffering avoidable sight loss due to delays in care.