You can support our work to champion the central role optometrists play in delivering safe and timely eye care to more patients closer to home, and help reduce the reliance on local GPs, cut NHS waiting times and enable more people to live independently in England.
In our manifesto for change, we outlined our three key priorities to end the eye care crisis in England. You can help amplify these messages by sharing them in your responses locally and nationally, in addition to your own experiences.
1. Enable optometrists to provide more care to patients closer to home
Health services must recognise and utilise the full skills of optometrists. They must establish optometrists as first contact practitioners for eye care, in addition to their vital sight testing and eye examination services.
2. Prioritise a better-connected NHS and unlock the potential of new technologies
Upgrading IT infrastructure and improving digital connectivity will lead to more effective communication between healthcare professionals. The adoption of digital image sharing standards will also ensure more efficient patient referrals and reduce delays in diagnosis and treatment.
3. Support the optometry workforce to develop specialised skills
Sustainable eye care workforce planning must be backed by investment in education and training to ensure we have the eye care capacity patients need, when and where they need it.