College offers support to new Minister for Primary Care

College President Prof Leon Davies has written to Rt Hon Dame Andrea Leadsom DBE MP, the new Minister for Public Health, Start for Life and Primary Care, welcoming her to the role and offering the support of the College in addressing some of the key challenges the NHS faces in delivering eye care services. 

Prof Davies highlighted the growing risk of avoidable sight loss due to long waiting times for ophthalmology appointments, and how optometrists in primary care can help alleviate the pressures on the hospital eye care service. He also welcomed the Department of Health and Social Care's request that the eye care sector develop a standard service specification for minor and urgent eye care for England, and our commitment to defining the clinical standards. Finally, he highlighted the work that we are doing to ensure digital connectivity between primary, community and secondary care is greatly improved to enable two-way communication and ensure more efficient patient referrals.