Moneo writes

The new NHS
In the last week I have been to two events that demonstrate the stark contrast that exists between the hierarchy and the grass roots of our profession. This contrast should worry us all.
At the National Optometric Conference in York (which incidentally I thought was by far the most relevant of modern times) there was much talk about the proposed changes to the GOS in the forthcoming government bill and how we as a profession must fight these changes. The purpose of this column is not to debate the rights and wrongs of these actions, but it is worth contrasting this stance with that of everyday optometrists on the ground.
At a conference on Sunday I was present in a room where these everyday optometrists were asked about costs of referring patients within the NHS. Few if any of them were aware of those costs, or of payment by results, or of practice-based commissioning. These are all basic elements of our everyday practising lives, and yet I suspect the people in that room on Sunday were not the only ones who seem to know little or nothing of modern NHS systems with which we have to or will have to work.
We, as optometrists, can no longer practise in isolation. We need to wake up to the fact that as our leaders fight for us to remain in the NHS we, as holders of NHS contracts in the future, will be part of primary care health teams and not just mere optometrists.
Our future will most likely include activities such as 'stop smoking' advice for patients, healthy-living advice for patients, obesity management. Many of these things will be expected of us as primary care professionals. This is what PCTs want to see for their local communities. This is what primary care professionals do nowadays.
For a long while we have argued for the status of primary care professional to include optometrists. At last the actions of our professional bodies will encourage this to happen. This means in the future that those of us who do have an NHS contract to test sight can expect to be doing far more for patients than just testing their eyes.
This is, of course, well understood by those who are currently arguing with government to keep universal entitlement to the NHS contract. The fact that they clearly understand the agendas of PCTs for primary healthcare and health promotion is excellent.
It is vital, therefore, that the rest of us begin to understand and realise what holding an NHS contract will mean in the future. The leaders of the profession are fighting hard for this new world of NHS optometry. You as the optometrist on the street cannot ignore what they are doing for you. You need to wake up and get to grips with what your new contract may deliver.
The NHS is no longer about the practitioner. It is about the patient and how we as clinicians can maximise the healthcare benefits for our patients. Get involved and understand what your new role may well look like in the future. The NHS contract will not be all about creating spectacle prescriptions for selling glasses. It will be about keeping people healthy and all that is involved in primary care.
Exciting times lie ahead and our professional bodies need your support in creating this new way of working.