Some of the most interesting pieces of news have a habit of breaking on Tuesdays when Optician is going to press. Not a problem in the world of online news and periodicals, but as a weekly title, I often find myself having to use op-ed columns as a vehicle to break news. Not a major issue, but certainly not ideal.
I have no problem talking about today’s news, though. The announcement of the Labour Party’s plans to formally utilise high street optical practices to deliver NHS outpatient appointments should be like music to the optometry sector’s ears.
During an address to the Institute for Government (IfG) earlier this week (Tuesday, January 23), shadow health minister Karin Smyth said Labour, if elected, would seek to negotiate with high street opticians to drive down ophthalmology waiting lists that now exceed 619,000.
‘Most people are waiting for routine tests, scans, and assessments – simple appointments which could be done in an opticians,’ Smyth told the IfG. ‘Patients are left with a desperate choice – wait and risk losing their eyesight or pay to go private. There are 6,000 high street opticians in England, equipped with specialist staff and kit that can get patients seen faster.’
Naturally, news of Labour’s election pledge was greeted with enthusiasm by the optometric sector. Specsavers, Fodo and the Association of Optometrists praised the plans, and even the Royal College of Ophthalmologists endorsed Labour’s intentions.
Earlier this month (January 5), I noted the sector’s growing influence within Westminster and today’s news is the clearest example of the impact it’s having on what appears to be the government in waiting.
Of course, the announcement needs more meat on the bones and an early report in The Telegraph referenced negotiations with optical chains for delivery, so sector-wide appeal may be limited.
Labour also needs to win the general election, but given the current government appears to be more ‘stop the votes’ than ‘stop the boats,’ that part, at least, looks more certain.