The College of Optometrists used this year’s Westminster party conference season to champion the vital role of optometrists with MPs and ministers across the political spectrum. We attended five conferences this year, promoting the key messages from our Manifesto for England.

The College of Optometrists has submitted written evidence to the Senedd’s Health and Social Care Committee with our views on the Welsh Government's priorities for health and social care.

The main purpose of the bill is to abolish NHS England and centralise its services, creating single patient records where patient health information is available in one place.

The Health Bill is part of the government's modernisation agenda to improve patient care in England.

Glaucoma is the second leading cause of irreversible sight loss in the UK and affects over one million people, which is predicted to rise by 100,000 cases to 1.145 million people by 2030*.

The government has progressed its commitment to moving more care from hospitals to communities.

Welsh government urged to go even further to advance optometry services and meet the growing demand for community eye care.

Securing sustainable eye care in Wales

Next Scottish government urged to go even further to meet the growing need for community eye care services to prevent sight loss.

The Government’s 10-Year Health Plan is a crucial chance to expand and strengthen primary eye care by cutting hospital pressure and tackling inequalities in access across England.

Podcast: College Clinical Adviser Denise Voon MCOptom talks to Marsha de Cordova, Labour MP for Battersea, and Shockat Adam, Independent MP for Leicester South, about their work in Parliament advocating for eye care professionals.

Eye care in Scotland: building on success