The College of Optometrists is calling on local commissioners to universally commission and fund community minor and urgent eyecare services across all regions in England.
Dr Gillian Rudduck, president of the College of Optometrists, commented: “The evidence is clear: community-based and optometry-led eyecare services deliver safe, effective patient care for most minor and urgent eye conditions, while reducing the burden on GPs, A&E and hospital eye departments.
“In a time of NHS workforce shortages and hospital eye care backlogs, expanding community minor and urgent eye care services across the whole of England provides an effective solution for increasing capacity and decreasing waiting times, ultimately helping to prevent avoidable sight loss due to over-burdened hospital eye services.
“Perhaps most critically, commissioning more optometry-led primary eyecare services aligns with the government’s plans for a shift to community-based care, and will foster a more resilient system that’s able to meet the growing eyecare demands of our ageing population.”