Scottish Government’s long-term conditions framework consultation

The Scottish Government recently consulted on its Long-term conditions framework which aims to reform how care is delivered to people living with chronic health conditions. With Scotland’s aging population and around one in four people living with two or more long-term conditions, the consultation recognised the growing pressure on the healthcare system and the need for policy to better reflect the reality.

The proposed approach moves away from condition-specific commitments and instead sets out a more integrated, person-centred framework. It focuses on common priorities such as early detection of diseases, empowering people to self-manage where possible, ensuring individuals have the right support and tools to do so, and preventing the progression of illness.

Optometry Scotland (OS) responded to the consultation, emphasising the support that community optometry provides for people living with long-term conditions. In the response from OS, accessible community optometry is highlighted in how it can be incredibly important in prevention and early detection of long term diseases. OS argued that community optometrists must be better placed in integrated care to allow for a person-centred and effective approach to healthcare, like the one the Scottish Government is aiming to achieve.

The OS response had areas of significant similarities with the AOP’s ongoing Transforming eye care for older people for better health strategy that aims to draw the Government’s attention to enhancing the care provided to older patients. Both organisations have voiced their stance on ending the postcode lottery by recommending uniform commissioning across all Health Boards, enhancing data sharing across the healthcare professionals, allowing optometrists to have access to patient records, improving signposting services within healthcare sector, greater collaboration with the third sector, and allowing optometrists to do more with preventative care, early detection and monitoring.

We are therefore pleased to offer our support to the response made by OS.