NHS to meet eye care needs in high street

A toolkit for local NHS agencies to commission eye care services from primary providers such as high street opticians has been announced by health minister Rosie Winterton.

Speaking at this week's Delivering the Vision conference in York, Winterton said the recent review of General Ophthalmic Services showed there was clear scope for hospitals to work hand in hand with primary eye care providers. This would enable the NHS to provide an integrated approach to eye care services and be more responsive to patients' needs.

The toolkit is designed to help the delivery of eye care services by keeping pace with the demand of age-related conditions, making better use of local services such as those found in high street opticians, making services more accessible to patients and improving the patient experience.