“Time to act is now”

During a keynote presentation at 100% Optical last weekend, Specsavers clinical services director, Giles Edmonds, called on the optical sector to “come together and send a clear message to politicians to put community eyecare at the heart of the coming general election”.

Speaking on the main stage, Giles highlighted how community optics clinicians and their teams “are ready and able to deliver even more patient care in support of the NHS”.

From left: Paul Morris, Professor Anthony King and Giles Edmonds

He said: “It is time to exert all the influence that we have, locally and through the national optical bodies. It is time to write to your MP and tell them how much you would support this being in their parties’ manifesto. It is time to invite them to visit you, to get this issue heard and not swept aside.

“From an eyecare perspective, the legacy of Covid continues and the challenges of an ageing population is clear: waiting lists are long, money and resources are scarce. Shortages of ophthalmologists continue and vacancies for trained NHS staff still number over 100,000.

“The scale of the issue facing society is unchanged with the Royal College of Ophthalmologists anticipating a large increase in demand for glaucoma appointments by 2035. And we shouldn’t forget, glaucoma accounts for nearly 20% of all outpatient ophthalmology appointments.”

Giles added: “We must continually develop ourselves, services and pathways to be patient centric and effective. The National Eye Health Strategy Bill for England, tabled by Marsha de Cordova, would have given us a platform for this, as we see in the devolved nations. We must keep working together to lobby decision makers to make changes for the benefit of patients in our communities.”

The message was underlined by a focus on glaucoma – and how optometry, dispensing opticians and ophthalmology could collaborate to help prevent avoidable sight loss for the benefit of patients and the country.

Glaucoma UK’s chair, Professor Anthony King, joined the main stage presentation to share the charity’s vison and strategy in its 50th anniversary year. He highlighted the importance of raising awareness of the risk of glaucoma in under-served communities, especially areas of high social deprivation. He also spoke about the charity’s services for people living with glaucoma, and the benefits of eyecare professionals being more proactive with glaucoma patients and their relatives, who may also be at risk.

Paul Morris, Specsavers director of professional advancement, also spoked during the event. He emphasised that “everyone in the eyecare sector can, and must, work together to address the pressure on glaucoma services and continue to raise awareness of the issues. That included developing expertise through professional and higher certificates, and to focus on communicating the importance of eye examinations to the public.”