Optometry Wales announced that it was not in favour of the changes to the voucher system in Wales, as government plans would reduce access to NHS eye care for children and patients on means-tested benefits.
The professional body said it was strongly opposed to any change to vouchers but the Welsh government insisted on a reduction.
‘The Welsh government undertook its own research into the cost of a limited selection of lenses and frames and used this to set new voucher values. We appreciate this does not represent the full range of incurred cost across all practices and that practices might struggle to offer what they do now within the voucher range,’ Optometry Wales said in a statement.
It added that the Welsh Government is aware that patient choice of eyewear will be affected by the voucher change.
The professional body will continue to communicate sector feedback with the government, including impacts of this policy decision on patients given current economic circumstances and for those in domiciliary care.