Viewpoint: NHS flux could present an opportunity

Regular readers of this column will know that in the past I have spared little when it comes to highlighting what I perceive to be shortcomings in our professional bodies. However, not this month. I would like to congratulate wholeheartedly, the chief executive of the Association of Optometrists (AOP) for his recent comments concerning the announcements made by Thérèse Coffey, the new health secretary around her new NHS ‘Plan for Patients’.

Like all recent health secretaries, Coffey demonstrates from the outset her complete lack of understanding of the NHS. The greater sadness is, by making the announcements she did, it is clear she is still surrounded by the same civil service team who also either misunderstand the NHS completely or have deliberately set about misguiding the health secretary from the outset. Either option is totally unacceptable.