View from Locsu: Moving forward with MECS

I have been pondering this question since Locsu set out its ambitious aim to double the number of clinical commissioning groups with minor eye condition services (Mecs) by April 2017. Does this target require trusting commissioners or does it need a profession that has confirmed its competence and readiness?

In my area, the Midlands and East, CCGs seem to have grasped the value of Mecs and many services are in place. However, gaps persist. The consensus of the Locsu board is that, as a profession, we should help remove one of the barriers to enabling Mecs services – a demonstrably competent workforce. This means offering all optometrists access to the Locsu/Wopec Mecs accreditation.