From sunrise to synergy: navigating the NHS Confederation Primary Care Conference

Setting the scene: the conference begins at 7am

As the curtains rose on the NHS Confederation Primary Care Conference (22 February), the AOP’s director of policy, Carolyn [Ruston], who was on the morning shift, found herself at the entrance, coffee in hand, ready to absorb the day’s insights. Arriving at 7am might sound more like a comedy sketch than a conference strategy, but they say the early bird catches the worm – or in our case, the latest breakthroughs in primary care.

1 Art of the possible: breaking down barriers in primary care

Exploring the art of the possible, this session centred on innovative solutions for tackling capacity and resource challenges in primary care. Many ideas were discussed, including strategies to future-proof the workforce, ensuring its readiness for present and upcoming demands, and emphasising the pivotal role of partnerships and collaboration between the private and public sectors of the NHS.

Panellists explored tangible success stories, spotlighting collaborative initiatives that enhanced the skills of the primary care workforce and enabled them to take on added responsibilities. The results included improved efficiencies, boosted retention, and crucially an elevated patient experience. This session shed light on the transformative power of collective efforts, underlining that through collaboration, we pave the way for a more resilient and patient-centred future in primary care, poised to meet the challenges ahead. This naturally makes me think of the possibilities for the optometry profession: how can optometrists harness these innovations to elevate practise and enhance patient experiences?

Through collaboration, we pave the way for a more resilient and patient-centred future in primary care

2 Rethinking the relationship: a harmony of primary and secondary care

Attending the breakout session on rethinking the relationship between primary and secondary care was an eye-opener. The pressing challenges in improving patient access and addressing workload were candidly addressed. It’s evident that the interface needs a transformation to meet the growing demands on the healthcare system. The call for small yet impactful steps, be it redesigning care pathways or tweaking existing processes, resonated as a practical approach for sustainable change. As an advocate for optometry, I couldn’t help but reflect on the potential for our field. Strengthening ties with secondary care providers will pave the way for a more interconnected and efficient healthcare system.

This session focused on one of the key areas of challenge for primary care and the optometry profession – IT connectivity. It was refreshing to see an emphasis on improving communication between primary care as a collective entity with secondary care, rather than solely focusing on GPs, as is commonly seen at these types of events. With the shift over the last few years to a ‘holistic’ approach to health, primary care will more than ever need to work in unison. This is why it is important for the AOP to represent our members at these events, to highlight to the wider sector just some of the IT barriers that optometrists face when it comes to providing high-quality, specialist eye care for patients.

The call for small yet impactful steps, be it redesigning care pathways or tweaking existing processes, resonated as a practical approach for sustainable change

3 Making the most of your community assets: optometry’s role in integrated neighbourhoods

 
The final frontier of the conference took me to the session Making the most of your community assets. This session broadened my perspective on the depth of community-driven healthcare solutions. While not a novel concept, the emphasis on primary care providers as the core, alongside leveraging existing community assets and passionate teams, resonated as a realistic, bottom-up approach. The interactive discussion challenged assumptions about integration, steering away from an overly engineered approach.

With every event I attended, I analysed the speakers’ perspectives with an optometry lens… (get it? Optometry ‘lens’?). Anyway, during this session I was struck when thinking about the number of community eye care schemes that optometrists already participate in. Whether that be Minor Eye Conditions Services, glaucoma schemes, cataract care, or any of the many others that our optometrist members dedicate their time to. In this way, it highlighted to me that while GPs are crying out for help, optometrists are offering their assistance up and down the country. If only the services they are offering were consistently commissioned by Integrated Care Boards. This is one of the reasons why it is imperative that we as an organisation, representing our members, keep the primary care sector informed on what optometrists can and are trained to do.

While GPs are crying out for help, optometrists are offering their assistance up and down the country. If only the services they are offering were consistently commissioned

In conclusion, the NHS Confederation Primary Care Conference provided an essential insight into the front door to the NHS. As we navigate the ever-evolving landscape of primary care, rest assured that the AOP stands at the forefront, championing your interests and paving the way for a brighter future for optometry.