View from the AIO: Nothing is free in life

There is general support for the concept that community optometry should take increasing prominence as the provider of primary eye care services across the UK. This goes beyond the independent sector which in the majority has been clinically focused on long term eye health care for many years.

Specsavers is moving to introduce OCT into its stores and there is clearly an appetite in the multiples to participate in Mecs and others local schemes.

So what is getting in the way of accelerating progress in what surely makes sense for optical professionals and NHS alike?

Well, in England, with 211 CCGs all with their own issues, it is virtually impossible to get a coherent approach. There is clearly a greater strategic understanding of the role that optometry can constructively play in Scotland and Wales, but politicians in Westminster will never accept that they could learn anything from Holyrood or the Senedd.