I hope readers have been able to make the most of the long daylight hours that the UK enjoys at this time of year. I had thought that this issue of Optician would hit doormats on the summer solstice itself but, having recently joined my local astronomical society, I’ve been informed by more experienced and wiser members that the longest day of this particular year is actually June 20.
Regardless, we are approaching the halfway point of the year and I think it is a good time to briefly consider what has happened so far and what may follow. While 2024 has seen our industry go about its business with the usual events and high levels of activity that help practitioners deliver of high-quality eye care to patients, much of the wider discourse has been focused on the political.
The upcoming general election has generated unprecedented, at least in my time covering optics, political engagement with and by players in the optical industry. Hopes are high in many quarters that July 4 will prove a positive inflection point for optical practices and how they are valued and used by the NHS.
So, what of the six months ahead? Certainly, all signs at time of writing point towards not only a change of government but a new government with a substantial majority to pass its legislative agenda. If that does come to pass, it seems reasonable to expect some kind of tangible progress by the end of the year.
If not, the mood of many practitioners and industry leaders may be rather less optimistic. All necessarily speculative at this stage but whatever happens you can count on Optician to keep you informed along the way.
