Investing in optometry could reap £98 million in annual benefits to the NHS

New economic analysis has highlighted that for every £1 spent by the NHS on High Street optometry services, £3.98 of value is delivered.

The Key Interventions to Transform Eye Care & Eye Health report was undertaken by PA Consulting, with support from the AOP, Fight for Sight, Primary Eyecare Services and Roche Products Ltd.

The research finds that investing in primary eye care has the potential to deliver £98m in net benefits for the NHS, while also helping the Government to achieve its objective – outlined in the Darzi report – of reducing waiting lists and bringing care close to home.

The analysis puts forward four system-wide changes: a national roll-out of pathways for glaucoma, cataract and Community Urgent Eye Services, as well as transforming the potential of optical coherence tomography.

It is estimated that these changes could release two million appointments per year within overstretched hospital eye services and GP practices – the equivalent of9600 appointments per year for each acute trust in England.

The report identifies several challenges that the NHS currently faces, including a predicted rise of 25% in the prevalence of common eye conditions over the next decade, a growth in demand for hospital eye services that outpaces capacity, and significant variation in both eye care activity and outcomes.

AOP chief executive, Adam Sampson, highlights that the report offers “real cause for optimism.”

“The data shows that the existing service delivered by optometrists on High Streets across the UK delivers outstanding value. And it further signals four simple ways in which the role of High Street optometry in end-to-end eye care and eye health in the UK can be extended, which will cut waiting lists, achieve cost savings to the NHS, and support the drive for growth in the economy,” he said.

Fight for Sight chief executive, Keith Valentine, emphasised the need for improved patient outcomes within the NHS.

“For the past several years ophthalmology has accounted for almost 10% of all NHS backlogs, leading to avoidable and irreversible sight loss. Proper investment and design of our primary care services as this report demonstrates will be transformational in the delivery of eye care in this country,” he shared.

Primary Eyecare Services chief executive, Dharmesh Patel, observed that the interventions put forward in the report are based on existing innovative delivery models.

“Along with partners, we stand ready to scale up delivery of eye care in the community at a local, regional and national level at pace,” he highlighted.

Roche Products Limited ophthalmology lead, Eelke Roos, shared: “Optometrists are on the frontline of eye care, and their experiences and insights are essential in identifying sustainable solutions to the crisis in eye care for ophthalmology patients.”

The full report can be read on the AOP website.