Optician will host a round table discussion next week to discuss the impact of recent NHS reforms on the development of community eye care and assess the results of its survey into this important topic.
Practitioner activity and attitudes following NHS reforms were assessed by the Optician research which was commissioned by the Local Optical Committee Support Unit (News 30.08.13). This revealed healthy levels of participation and interest in community eye care schemes but also highlighted some problem areas. These included a lack of buy-in from some practice principals and the absence of schemes in some areas of the country. The research also showed very poor understanding and awareness of the Public Health Indicator (PHI) for eye health.
The round table discussion will seek ideas and opinions from a range of practitioners and leaders from the profession including LOCSU’s managing director Katrina Venerus. She said the significance of the NHS reforms should not be underestimated. Setting up the infrastructure to enable practices to deliver community services had been key to LOCSU’s strategy, so it was heartening to see high levels of interest from the profession. More needed to be done to raise the awareness of the PHI, she added.
Attending the round table will be representatives of clinical commissioning groups, the College of Optometrists, the Optical Confederation and LOCs. The discussion will also take the views of practitioners from the independent and multiple sectors.