Optical practices can help ease waiting time crisis

High street optical services have the ability to ease mounting pressure on hospital services in England – amid a record number of visits to accident and emergency this winter.

NHS England this week reported that 446,500 people went to A&E in the week leading up to Christmas, up 38,000 on the same week last year. The percentage of patients discharged, admitted or transferred within four hours of arrival at A&E stood at 88.8 per cent – the lowest on record.

Responding to the figures, Katrina Venerus, managing director of the Local Optical Support Unit (LOCSU), said many visits due to eye conditions would be better treated on the high street.