Simon Jones: Rinse and repeat

Five health secretaries in as many years is not just a damning indictment of a chaotic, shambolic government, it’s a depressing statistic for anyone working towards or hoping for greater integration between high street optometry and NHS ophthalmology departments.

Optometry’s position on how it can help NHS ophthalmology has been consistent for many years, but continuity is something the Department for Health and Social Care has been sorely lacking in recent years.

I would be happy if the optometry sector’s lobbyists took the next few months off and waited for an incoming Labour government. To my political email acquaintance from Barnstaple, yes, that is what I am hoping for. Outgoing health secretary Steve Barclay had been in post for just over 12 months.