It would not be the beginning of the New Year, if we did not take a few moments to reflect on what has gone over the last year, what the New Year is likely to hold and the opportunities that may present. On the whole I suspect the optical world can look back at 2014 as a good year. While the economy generally was picking up, post-recession, this had a knock on effect on public confidence and hence propensity to purchase spectacles, resulting in increased sales for practices. However there is still also the long-term issue of a fundamental lack of trust in optical practices, as most of the public see us as sellers of spectacles rather than healthcare professionals.
This year there were very encouraging comments from NHS England regarding the role that optical practices can have in reducing workload in GP practices and secondary care. In September there was the 'Call to action for improving eye health and sight loss', and while we wait to see the outcome of this, at least there appears to have been widespread agreement as to the issues and actions that should result. Through the year there also appears to have been more engagement with clinical commissioning groups resulting in some new schemes being implemented and I hope more in the pipeline. For practices that want to diversify their services across the country this will give further opportunities.
On the negative side there has been dissent in the optical camp regarding student numbers and the need for another optometry course, but at least we now have some work being done on manpower numbers, so we will have a clearer view in the future.
With a general election looming in May, whatever the result, I hope this does not cause the NHS to backtrack on what it is putting in place regarding the emphasis on delivery of healthcare through primary care. Past experience tells me the definite downside to a general election is a dip in public confidence and how much people spend in the run up to the election. This is not due to any real reduction in spending power, but the uncertainty about what is going to happen and whether things may get tougher post-election. I suspect this downturn in pre-election sales will be more obvious in 2015, as it appears unlikely there will be an outright winner and so even greater uncertainty.
So what are the opportunities for the forthcoming year? Perhaps if we can capitalise on the positive messages coming from NHS England regarding the role that optical practices can play in primary care, this will help to address fundamental issues of a lack of trust in optical practices, as this work does not align so closely with the sale of spectacles? Is there also the opportunity to link to planned public health initiatives, in doing so again improving patient’s trust in their optician?
Finally may I wish you a Happy and Prosperous New Year.
