New Clinical Council to steer commissioning

A cross-sector organisation has been set up to help direct the £2.2bn spent on eye health services in England each year.

The new Clinical Council for Eye Health Commissioning said it would offer united, evidence-based advice and guidance to commissioners.

Leaders of the group would be the Royal College of Ophthalmologists (RCO) and College of Optometrists.

Dr Kamlesh Chauhan, president of the College of Optometrists, said: ‘New treatments and an ageing population mean we are helping more patients than ever to beat eye disease and see clearly. But there is much more we can do and I am delighted patient groups, GPs, public health and social services are working with us to improve the quality and efficiency of eye care.’