NHS England’s failure to act is forcing optical practices to close and putting the eye health of patients at risk during the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic, the Optical Fees Negotiating Committee (OFNC) has warned.
It highlighted that despite NHS England offering emergency funding for urgent and essential care and pressure from the OFNC, no guidance has been issued to practices on their role during the pandemic.
The group of professional bodies has written to ministers and NHS England noting that it ‘cannot fill the void the NHS has left on the problem of funding.’
Paul Carroll, chair of the OFNC, said: ‘Eye care patients are now at serious risk because of blockages somewhere in the NHS England system. We are now asking ministers to intervene urgently to sort this out, so we can help the public with eye and vision problems during this national crisis.’
The OFNC said that optical practices have stopped routine sight testing in line with public health guidance, which has meant the majority of their income has ‘vanished overnight’ and they are now in need of financial support.
It added that if optical practices are not supported to provide services, patients might be forced down higher-risk pathways such as A&E.
OFNC also noted how the NHS in other parts of the UK have recognised the role optical practices can play during the pandemic in keeping patients away from GPs and hospitals.