Urgent eye care services under threat

A lack of funding threatened the commissioning of urgent eye care services in England as demand rose sharply and outpaced the capacity of hospital eye services, according to the College of Optometrists.  

The professional body called on local commissioners to universally commission and fund community minor and urgent eye care services across all regions in England.

It said a national roll-out of these services was estimated to reduce hospital appointments by at least 200,000 a year and 400,000 GP appointments per year. 

The College added that up to 70% of eye-related A&E cases could be managed in primary care by optometrists, providing a significant opportunity to shift care closer to home.