Minister of State for Care, Stephen Kinnock, to join AOP’s panel discussion at Labour Party Conference

In collaboration with Progressive Britain, we are hosting a panel discussion, Health on every High Street, at the autumn Labour Party Conference.

The event, taking place on Sunday 28 September at 4.30pm in the Progressive Britain marque, will spotlight Labour’s 10-Year Health Plan, with a focus on expanding community-based services and dismantling the barriers to NHS care.

The Minister of State for Care, Stephen Kinnock, will be featured on the panel, joined by AOP Chief Executive, Adam Sampson, and a cross-section of representatives across local leadership, policy and health. Together, they will explore how primary care can deliver more services closer to home.

Speakers will examine how Labour’s neighbourhood health service differs from previous approaches to prevention. Backed by Lord Darzi’s clear mandate for reform, the three ‘big shifts’ have the potential to end the postcode lottery in care and deliver sustainable improvements.

Adam Sampson said: “The NHS is at a critical juncture. We can no longer confine vital services behind hospital doors when they can be delivered in local High Street practices. By shifting care closer to people’s homes, Labour can advance its prevention agenda, reduce waiting lists, and ensure that healthcare is not determined by where you live.

“Optometry has a vital role to play in this big shift. We have set out the case to deliver more eye care services nationally, with our co-commissioned PA Consulting report showing we can improve patient care, end the postcode lottery, and deliver value for money. Optometry already offers a blueprint for what the Government envisage as a neighbourhood health service – now it’s time to deliver.”

The full panel line-up includes:

• Stephen Kinnock MP, Minister of State for Care
• Adam Sampson, Chief Executive, Association of Optometrists
• Matthew Taylor, Chief Executive, NHS Confederation
• Oliver Coppard, Metro Mayor, South Yorkshire
• Charlotte Refsum, Director of Health Policy, Tony Blair Institute for Global Change
• Chair: Cllr Dr Sara Hyde, Executive Member for Health and Wellbeing, Islington Council.

We are attending the Liberal Democrat, Conservative and Labour conferences to champion access to eye care in every community. We’ll be talking to MPs and stakeholders in health – representing members and their teams to those shaping policy and the delivery of the 10-Year Health Plan.

If you are planning to attend any of the autumn party conferences this year, we’d love to hear from you. Get in touch with the Communications team: [email protected]