An NHS England report outlining the next steps for integrating primary care has been welcomed by a group of optical representative bodies.
The Fuller Stocktake report highlighted the role of primary care specialisms and aimed to help new Integrated Care Systems (ICSs) and Primary Care Networks to fully utilise the expertise and capacity in primary care.
It raised concerns about capacity in General Practice and set out how to integrate primary care to streamline access to care and advice, provide proactive and personalised care by utilising a multidisciplinary team, and help people stay well for longer.
A renewed focus on prevention of ill health was also called for, which the optical bodies said primary eye care already did through services such as preventing falls.
The Association of British Dispensing Opticians, the Association of Optometrists, the College of Optometrists, FODO and the Local Optical Committee Support Unit said the report included welcome messages for the new ICSs about primary eye care.