College response to the NHS England Medium Term Planning Framework
We are concerned that primary eye care has been omitted as a priority opportunity in the framework.
“The College of Optometrists is supportive of the NHS’s commitment to improving access to primary care and reducing unwarranted variation in access in England, but we are deeply concerned by the omission of primary eye care as a priority opportunity in the Medium Term Planning Framework.
“Ophthalmology is currently the largest outpatient speciality in the NHS, with almost 9 million appointments in England a year and long wait lists that lead to avoidable sight loss. As one of the four pillars of primary care, alongside GPs, pharmacy and dentistry, optometry is integral to increasing earlier intervention and reducing appointment pressures on hospitals and waiting times for patients. This framework is a missed opportunity to commit to universal funding and commissioning of enhanced primary eye health pathways across England as a critical service in Neighbourhood Health Plans.
“Optometrists have the clinical skills to provide a wider range of enhanced eye care services in the community to meet patients’ needs, including urgent eye care, pre- and post-cataract care, and glaucoma referral refinement services. For example, evidence from urgent eye care schemes that have been commissioned in some areas of England show that optometrists can safely manage most acute eye cases in the community, delivering timely care while reducing unnecessary hospital visits.
“We encourage ICBs to include enhanced primary eye care pathways as part of their detailed 3 year plans to deliver on the stated aims of the 10 Year Health Plan and enable all patients to access timely care and treatment close to home.”
Dr Gillian Rudduck MCOptom, President of The College of Optometrists