Chris Bennett: Optometry's future can only be in primary care if fees for sight tests don't rise

If there was ever a week in which the case for optometrists to be the primary care pathway for eyecare this was it.

Last year's reforms in the NHS held out great hope that more power would be placed in the hands of those qualified eye care professionals on the high street. While there are some great examples of how local networks can offer joined up thinking they are not the norm.

This week (news) Pharmacy Voice is the latest body to push for  primary care to be brought out of hospitals and placed in the community. Its cross-sector paper, We Are Primary Care, is backed up with calls from optometry for the NHS to recognise and use the skills in the high street.