ABDO welcomes 10 Year Health Plan launch

ABDO has welcomed the launch today (3 July 2025) of the government’s 10 Year Health Plan for England to deliver on the aim of “bringing care closer to home”.

In launching its new 10 Year Health Plan, the government is seeking to change how patients will access the NHS through the creation of Neighbourhood Health Centres, and the use of technology such as the NHS App.

The Plan also supports a prevention-led approach that includes ‘door-to-door outreach’ and early health monitoring to reduce long-term sickness. It also backs the use of ‘community-based professionals’.

Alistair Bridge, ABDO CEO, commented: “High Street optical practices already provide excellent health care close to home. The dispensing opticians and optometrists who work in these practices stand ready to relieve the strain on overstretched ophthalmology departments and reduce the number of patients who lose their sight while they wait for an appointment. This will require investment in technology and appropriate funding – but the net benefit for patients and taxpayers will be substantial.

“It is time to back the neighbourhood health centres that already exist in the form of High Street optical practices,” added Alistair.

A key investment, which the prime minister and health secretary will outline today, is £29bn in new funding – of which £2.2bn is targeted at deprived areas.

Max Halford, ABDO clinical and policy director, said: “We welcome the news that Lord Darzi’s recommendation to shift services from hospital out to the community is included in the 10 Year Health Plan. However, it must ensure that this translates to patients being seen at their High Street opticians for a wider healthcare approach – including earlier detection and long-term monitoring of eye conditions.

“We have thousands of ‘hubs’ across the UK – they are the High Street practices our patients attend everyday – staffed by highly trained staff ready to offer more care to their patients. The blocker in the past has always been outdated funding models, which don’t support primary care alongside the lack of a digital infrastructure, so it is welcomed that both these issues are addressed in the Plan. However, with strong national leadership these challenges can be overcome,” Max added.

ABDO said it would work closely with sector partners to study the full details of the plan, and the effect this could have on the delivery of eyecare across the UK.

Read the Fit for the future: 10 Year Health Plan for England report in full.

Read the DHSC announcement in full.

Read more about Lord Darzi’s report on the state of the NHS in England.