Fee uplift secured for optometry services in Wales

The Association of Optometrists welcomes the announcement of an uplift of £3.9 million for optometry services in 2024-25, following recent contract negotiations between the Welsh Government, NHS Wales, and Optometry Wales.

This additional funding follows major reforms of primary eye care services in Wales over the past year. The investment aims to expand the scope of clinical delivery in primary care optometry services, reducing the demand on hospital eye care services and increasing the capacity for specialist eye care provision.

Key highlights include:

• Increased funding support for optometrists and dispensing opticians for their continuing professional development
• Additional financial assistance for optometry practices to enable practitioners to obtain the professional higher certificate in glaucoma
• Differentiation of fees between the medical retina and glaucoma pathways to acknowledge the distinct clinical responsibilities
• Doubling of the fee paid to optometry practices to provide support and training to pre-registration optometrists.

Dr Peter Hampson, AOP Clinical and Policy Director, said: “We welcome the fee uplift in Wales, and the push to secure the delivery of more clinical work in primary care optometry services. This announcement shows the commitment in Wales to address the growing demand on hospital eye services and enhance the delivery of additional pathways within optometry to improve eye care services.

“The uplift will improve the training and retention of pre-registration optometrists. It will empower community optometrists and dispensing opticians to deliver high quality care, and enable that all-important shift of more care from the hospital to the community to enhance eye care services across Wales.”

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For more information, please contact Anjola Sulaiman, PR and Media Executive, at the Association of Optometrists, [email protected] or telephone 0207 549 2062.

Notes to Editors

Association of Optometrists

The Association of Optometrists (AOP) is the voice of the optical profession, representing 80% of practicing optometrists. The AOP elevates the work of its members, safeguards their interests, and champions eye health across the UK. For more information, visit www.aop.org.uk