Moneo writes: Oliver twist or stick

Where is the profession of optometry going to be in 10 years’ time? This is something that our professional organisations seem to be trying to address. However, sadly I have to say that what I have read so far has given me a crushing sense of déjà vu.

At the outset of any consideration of the future we need to be brutally frank about where we are in our relationship with the NHS and then base our thinking upon that current situation. Bluntly we have been propping up the NHS eye services for decades and we have been abused for doing that by the Department of Health. We have let this happen with toothless negotiations year upon year.