NHS 10 Year Plan barely includes proposals for eye health issues

The recently published NHS 10 Year Plan has been criticised by optical groups and professionals for barely mentioning any eye health related issues.

The only mention of the words eye and sight in the plan were regarding eye sight services for children with learning difficulties.

Jo Mullin, director of policy at the College of Optometry, said: ‘The plan’s focus on prevention and primary care is laudable; unfortunately, eye health barely gets a mention despite the capacity pressures experienced by the HES. This is a missed opportunity and the College will continue to press commissioners to include these schemes in their plans.’

Tony Stafford, AOP policy director, added: ‘The plan doesn’t specifically mention optometry, but the strategy it sets out is positive for the profession. The commitment to delivering more care in community settings is welcome, as is the greater share of funding primary care will receive and plans to consolidate CCGs. The recent Transforming Elective Care ‘Ophthalmology Handbook’ builds on this and recommends making greater use of optometrists to transform ophthalmology services.’