Help champion the role of optometrists in England

Following the announcement by Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer, of the scrapping of NHS England, we must ensure that it will not slow the progress of reform and the government’s plans to shift focus from hospitals to primary care. The College of Optometrists has responded to the abolishment of NHS England to call on the new administration to increase funding to further improve eye health services and urge that future resources are allocated effectively to ensure the most efficient and sustainable delivery of care.

Back in October 2024, the Westminster government launched a consultation on its 10 Year Health Plan to fix the NHS in England. The College used your views and ideas shared through a short questionnaire to inform our submission to the government. 

A final survey has been launched on the Change NHS platform until 5pm on Monday 14 April to hear your views and priorities for change on some of the emerging ideas from the engagement so far.

This is your last opportunity to share your thoughts and ideas! The platform will close after 14 April as the government will finalise the 10 Year Health Plan.

We want better recognition for optometrists. Eye care commissioners should make better use of primary care optometrists’ skills to provide more care closer to home and help reduce hospital waiting times. You can help shape the future of NHS eye care in England by feeding in directly as a health professional, a member of the public or as a patient. Details on how to feed in and information to support you discussing eye care are below:

1. Feed in directly as a health professional, a member of the public or as a patient

If you would like to share your views and priorities for change directly with the government, you can do so by completing the survey on the Change NHS website.

2. Ensure you get involved in next steps

The government will also be bringing together some of the thousands of members of the public, health and care staff and experts who have fed into the plan at a Change NHS summit. We do not have the details around this summit yet, but you can register to keep up to date with what is happening next.