Locsu has welcomed the arrival of Specsavers on the enhanced services scene (see In focus) and interested independents must not delay a move into primary care services.
At last count, the unit had helped set up more than 500 services across the UK – up a quarter since 2014 – and the arrival of more than 700 Specsavers practices can only help join the dots of Locsu’s Atlas of Optical Variation.
The multiple’s latest direction of travel was shared at Optrafair in April and a sequence of events since has shown it means business, with heads of enhanced optical services (EOS) appointed, Mecs training accelerated and now a campaign in the House of Lords.
Meanwhile, the College of Optometrists has been busy researching whether glaucoma, cataract or Mecs appointments are quite so lucrative.
The College concluded such services resulted in cost savings, but for whom? High street practices have learned the hard way with GOS that propping up the NHS can be a fairly exhausting experience.
While it is commendable to ask what the profession can do for NHS patients, there comes a time to ask what the NHS is doing for optics and future research should evaluate this.
However, past form alone suggests waves of enthusiasm from across the Channel in Guernsey indicate EOS is a horse worth backing.
There are strong enough odds at the moment to justify another gamble on the NHS and independent practices standing on the sidelines can no longer afford to hesitate.
