20 December 2023

College responds to the House of Lords Committee inquiry report

Public health Workforce

We welcome the publication of the House of Lords Committee inquiry report on integrating primary and community care and are pleased to see that the Committee has accepted our main recommendations.

The Committee recognises the optometry workforce as key healthcare professionals trained to a very high standard and essential at identifying and treating conditions in primary care settings.

Key recommendations from the report include:

  • improved IT connectivity, efficient data-sharing and co-ordinated digital interoperability between primary, community and secondary care.
  • greater preventative care that could take place in the community.
  • enhanced and equal collaboration between healthcare professionals working in primary, community and hospital settings.

As the sole representative from the optical sector invited to provide oral evidence to the House of Lords, the College had the privilege of influencing the committee's work on behalf of the profession.

The government has a real opportunity to improve patients’ outcome and we look forward to working with them and NHS England to enable optometrists to provide more care to patients in their local community.

Further information

Related news

Healthcare reforms must include wider use of primary eye care, optical leaders urge UK government
AI and technology New models of care Policy Public health Workforce

Lack of funding threatens commissioning of urgent care eye services in England
Public health Workforce England

The College celebrates 100 years of Ophthalmic and Physiological Optics (OPO)
Research Workforce

Related further reading

Unravelling misunderstandings around cataract care

A response from the College regarding concerns about the integrity of optometrists referring cataract patients to independent sector providers.

Cataract Policy Referrals Workforce

Well-being and optometric practice

Optometrists talk to patients about eye health every day, and have an important role to play in health promotion and public health.

Public health Wellbeing

Supplements and eye health

Reviewing the evidence for the role of supplements in eye health, particularly cataract and age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

AMD Public health