The NHS Long Term Plan describes joined up services with an emphasis on prevention and a personalised service for patients. This is the exact ethos that Healthy Living Opticians (HLOs) are promoting at the start of this new era post Covid-19.
Optometrists and dispensing opticians have the necessary professional and clinical skills, and are well placed in the heart of the community to deliver public health messages within practices on the High Street. The impact on eye health and sight should become an integrated feature of public health and education campaigns such as those which tackle smoking and obesity. Although widely publicised, patients are not always aware of the impact of their lifestyles on their health, including their eye health.
At present, HLOs offer advice on smoking cessation, alcohol intake, weight management, diabetes and dementia. They also conduct NHS health checks – including blood pressure and blood tests for glucose and cholesterol – providing patients with advice on healthier lifestyles. With these pathways already in place, new and relevant government initiatives, like delivering the Covid-19 vaccine and the flu vaccine programme, can swing into operation quickly.
The HLO framework offers development and training for optical teams. Optometrists, dispensing opticians and practice managers can attend leadership and skills training, including both ABDO and Wales Optometry Postgraduate Education Centre courses and accreditation. In addition, frontline staff can train as health champions – enabling the whole team to work cohesively, encouraging high standards of service and care. Staff are aware of local services and programmes when signposting or referring patients as the need arises in the best interests of the patient.
Currently, this scheme is based largely in the West Midlands and has expanded to parts of Manchester with a few other individual pockets across the country taking the initiative. The Local Optical Committee Support Unit is looking at the model that has been developed to persuade other public health teams in England to roll out the HLO concept in their areas.
Have a word with your local optical committee as this is a great opportunity for your practice to get involved in providing wider services and healthy living promotion for patients. And look out for the new Focus on Health Living area coming soon on the ABDO Clinical Hub.