It is a new year but a familiar story for the NHS: annual winter crisis, A&E at breaking point and hospital trusts under pressure.
We know that the optical sector can take significant amounts of pressure from A&E visits, GP appointments and hospital eye care. But we also need the whole sector to get involved, particularly those practices who are not currently providing Extended Primary Eyecare services.
There has been a steady increase in the number of Minor Eye Conditions Service (Mecs) commissioned by CCGs in line with achieving our target in Breakthrough Strategy by March this year – to double the number of CCGs with a Mecs.
We will also be stepping up our efforts to show that optometrists, with the appropriate training, can help to deliver routine follow-up and monitoring care which is traditionally delivered in hospitals and really help to create hospital capacity by reducing the routine burden.
I encourage all those practices who are not yet delivering extended primary eyecare services, where they could, to get involved with your LOC and your Primary Eye Care Company.
More and more CCGs have been convinced of the benefits of delivering routine eye care through optical practices. It is important we build on this to develop new and more innovative models of care with primary care at the core.
The advantage of the Primary Eyecare Company model is that practices of any size can participate. This delivers benefits to CCGs and patients. Through the model services can be offered across a wider geographical area, closer to the patient and in a more timely and convenient manner.
So, speak to your LOC to ensure you are fully engaged and informed about developments in 2017.
Richard Whittington, Locsu chief operating officer