The College of Optometrists responds to the UK Government’s Spending Review June 2025

"We welcome Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ funding boost of £29bn per year for the NHS in England and the reassertion of the government’s plans to shift the focus of care from hospitals back to primary and community care and its investment in technology.

“We call on the government to prioritise funding towards primary eye care services to help tackle the ophthalmology backlog and eye care crisis in the UK.  Primary care optometrists have the necessary clinical skills to provide more NHS services than they are currently commissioned to do and are ready to provide more care closer to home.

“This will help reduce pressure on GP appointments and decrease the long waiting times for hospital eye care, which is one of the largest contributors to the NHS backlog. The College’s recent policy review also highlights the benefits of universal commissioning of community urgent and emergency eye care services in England, as up to 70% of eye-related A&E cases could be managed in primary care by optometrists.

“This shift to primary care needs to be funded and implemented in the first phase of the NHS 10 Year Plan if pressures on hospital eye services are to be reduced, and NHS capacity is to be better aligned to meet growing patient needs in an ageing population.

“The announcement of increased investment in technology is also welcome news. We urge the government to prioritise investment in digital connectivity between primary care optometrists and hospital services as an essential enabler for improving the quality and timeliness of patient eye care.

“By investing in primary eye care services, digital connectivity, and preventative initiatives, the government has the opportunity to ensure the public can access eye care services when and where they need it, tackle the current eye care postcode lottery, and prevent avoidable sight loss.”