Verum writes

Over a number of months this column has drawn attention to the need for local optical committees to be proactive in engaging with their PCTs to develop new services to be commissioned by the PCT. Since 2007 the structure has been in place to allow PCTs to set up local optometric schemes that meet the needs of the population. If the profession is to advance the services we offer, this is a route that is key to the future. As always there are opportunities and threats to our ambitions.

The recent NICE guidelines on glaucoma have already resulted in more referrals to the hospital system, at significant cost to the PCT, with many patients being simply discharged requiring no treatment. The result is some hospitals are finding themselves unable to cope with the demand. It is clearly not acceptable for PCTs - as some have attempted to do - to ask practitioners not to refer according to the NICE guidelines.