New minister responsible for eyecare

James Frith MP

James Frith MP has been appointed Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State in the Department of Health and Social Care, with responsibility for eyecare.

The MP for Bury North was previously Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State in the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, and Parliamentary Secretary in the Cabinet Office, between 3 March and 22 July 2026.

He will be responsible for eyecare, dentistry as well as several other specialisms including NHS data and technology, research and innovation, and men’s health.

Commenting on the appointment, Adam Sampson, chief executive of the Association of Optometrists, said: “James Frith takes on this important brief at a pivotal time for eyecare and for the NHS.

“The government has set out a clear ambition to move the NHS from hospital to community, with more care delivered locally and outside hospital settings. Primary care services, including eyecare, are at the heart of this transformation.

“Optometry already provides accessible, high-quality clinical care in communities across the country and has the capacity and expertise to do much more. Moving appropriate eyecare out of hospitals and into community optometry in England is a practical example of how the government’s ambition for neighbourhood health can work in practice.

“James Frith will already have seen the contribution that community optometry can make. The challenge now is to turn that understanding into concrete steps.

“We need eyecare to be properly integrated into neighbourhood health services, with commissioning and funding models that enable optometrists and dispensing opticians to provide a wider range of NHS care. Better digital connectivity and stronger links between community and hospital services will be essential if patients are to experience genuinely joined-up care.

“Eyecare is too often treated as separate from the wider NHS. It should instead be recognised as an essential part of the government’s plans to shift care out of hospitals, improve prevention and tackle health inequalities. Community optometry is already on the High Street, close to where people live and work, and is uniquely placed to support this change.”