Professional bodies respond to Call to Action

LOCSU and the Optical Confederation have argued that unless better use is made of community optical practices, the NHS would not be able to cope with the welter of eye health needs.

Responding to the Call to Action 'Improving eye health and reducing sight loss', they said that an ageing population and the arrival of new treatments for conditions that were previously untreatable were the drivers.

They urged NHS England to implement national commissioning pathways that utilised the core skills of community optometrists and opticians to reduce unnecessary referrals to HES, as well as integrating practices with NHS IT systems.

The two bodies called for flexibility where necessary to ensure universal access to GOS for people from seldom heard and at-risk groups, including adults and children with learning difficulties and homeless people, and a more efficient and effective approach to the commissioning of community services to avoid duplication and reduce costs.