Recognising the opportunity the bill has presented to the profession, the Confederation revealed that the optical bodies have formed a bill team to work on the detail as it goes through Parliament.
The bill, which had a first reading on January 19, seeks to establish an NHS commissioning board and commissioning consortia in which family doctors would be in charge of commissioning healthcare for patients.
Speaking on behalf of the Optical Confederation, the Association of Optometrists' chief executive Bob Hughes said: 'The Health Bill brings a number of opportunities for optometry and optics. The outcome for primary ophthalmic services being with the new national commissioning board is carried through to the bill, and the board has the powers to set protocols and prices for what are currently enhanced services.'
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