“Optometrists have the expertise, the equipment, and we are in the community”

Earlier this month, I attended Portcullis House for the day alongside my PR and external affairs colleagues at the AOP for a Westminster drop-in event, with the aim of meeting and speaking to MPs to raise awareness of the role and expertise of community optometry.

On the day, we were competing with both the UK Flour Millers’ drop-in event and the standards inquiry debate; Keir Starmer was under scrutiny in the House of Commons about the hiring of formerly disgraced Peter Mandelson. While we knew this would mean MPs would be about, the vote continued well into our session.

Despite this, 12 MPs attended, including Helen Morgan MP, Liberal Democrat spokesperson for health and MP in North Shropshire, who had sponsored the event.

Also in attendance was optometrist Shockat Adam, Independent MP for Leicester South. Adam arrived at Portcullis House directly from a meeting with Stephen Kinnock, Minister of State for Care, who will be responsible for rolling out multi-disciplined neighbourhood health hubs. Eye care had not been mentioned, he shared.

My instinctive outrage was quickly supplanted by the realisation that there is no need for us to be in these health hubs: we are everywhere already. And this was the point myself and my AOP colleagues were there to make – optometrists have the expertise, the equipment, and we are in the community. However, the service we provide in those communities, in England, is a postcode lottery, as demonstrated by the interactive map we displayed for the drop-in.

Across England, some areas will have commissioned Community and Urgent Eyecare Services (CUES), some Minor Eye Conditions Services and some Glaucoma Enhanced Referral Services. Some may even have pre- or post-cataract pathways.

AOP

The AOP’s integrated map of the commissioning status of services across 42 ICBs

Before we see a person with a red eye in my practice, we have to ask which GP practice they are registered with, to ensure the patient is eligible for an NHS-funded appointment. So, we asked MPs in the room and those who were unable to attend, to sign a joint letter to Kinnock supporting our proposal, which expresses support for the AOP’s Eye care everywhere campaign for a nationally mandated, fully-funded enhanced eye care service.

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Eye care everywhere

Every day, optometrists manage common eye problems on the High Street, but these services are not universally available.

The proposal is to build on the existing General Ophthalmic Services framework rather than creating new legislation. This means it can be rolled out within months, not years, easing pressure on GPs, ophthalmologists and emergency departments. As we explained to MPs in attendance, it is what one would call ‘low hanging fruit.’

AOP Westminster drop-in

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OT’s Ceri Smith-Jaynes meets MPs to raise awareness of the expertise that optometrists have to deliver enhanced eye care services in the community

We gave each MP a briefing pack about their constituency, containing the local statistics on waiting lists and sight loss, as well as the number of optometry practices in their area.

We explained enhanced services and the current fragmented availability, the lack of awareness of these services – from patients and healthcare professionals – and how optometrists are often underutilised. We shook hands and posed for photos for MPs to share on social media.

The proposal is to build on the existing General Ophthalmic Services framework rather than creating new legislation

This was my first parliamentary drop-in and I felt honoured to be asked to participate. It was great to be able to meet with MPs and really try to drive home the work that optometrists can do in their communities.

With the NHS planning to shift care from hospitals to community, it felt like a good time to highlight the AOP’s Eye care everywhere campaign. We gained a lot of support on the day, but the bulk of the work is done behind the scenes by the AOP’s PR and external affairs team, both in preparation and following up with interested parties.

Prior to the event, I reached out through email and invited two of my local MPs in Lancashire and South Cumbria to attend the event, but they were unable to. However, Andrew Snowden MP did ask a parliamentary question about it.

In Lancashire and South Cumbria, we are doing relatively well on commissioned services and the doctors I have spoken to from our Integrated Care Board are supportive of the local CUES service. Sadly, this is not the case throughout England, and some areas have even had their services decommissioned.

If you would like to get involved, visit the AOP’s Eye care everywhere online hub, which includes resources on how you too can engage with your local MP.

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Parliamentary events

How we are championing eye care in Parliament