NHS England faces 'urgent challenge'

An ophthalmology group has called for NHS England to appoint a national clinical director for eye health to address the 'urgent challenge' faced by services.

The ABPI Pharmaceutical Ophthalmology Initiative (POPI), which includes Bausch+Lomb, MSD, Bayer and Novartis, made the recommendation in its new report Better Vision for All.

The report said the director should be responsible for supporting clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) in providing patients access to treatments and services based on the best clinical and cost effectiveness evidence. It also recommended that 'an eye health awareness campaign should be developed and executed'.

Conclusions were based on interviews with stakeholders in the eye health community, who included Kamlesh Chauhan, president of the College of Optometrists, Anita Lightstone, chief operating officer of Vision 2020 UK, and Nick Rumney, managing director of BBR Optometry.