AOP welcomes Labour plan on primary care optometry
In a keynote health policy speech at the Institute for Government (IfG) annual conference, Karin Smyth MP committed to working with primary care optometry to reduce hospital waiting times
The Association of Optometrists (AOP) has welcomed plans today set out by Karin Smyth MP, Shadow Health Minister, at the Institute for Government (IfG) annual conference.
In her keynote address, Karin Smyth announced Labour’s intention to ‘negotiate a deal with High Street optometrists to deliver NHS outpatient appointments’ if elected as the next government.
Highlighting issues within eye care, Karin Smyth cited that 619,000 patients are waiting for treatment, with 17,000 waiting for more than a year while their sight worsens.
Responding to the plans, Adam Sampson, AOP Chief Executive said: "We welcome the Labour Party’s focus on primary eye care. We are facing a health crisis in this country. This includes a hospital waiting list emergency, with growing numbers of patients facing avoidable and irreversible sight loss due to delays.
“Labour have quite rightly acknowledged the important role of primary eye care services in the community in reducing the backlog and we are committed to helping wherever we can to design services that meet demand and the needs of patients.
“Fixing eye care does not require years of investment in new facilities and staff training. Optometrists on the High Street have the premises, the equipment and the clinical skills to deliver accessible, high-quality eye care. All it takes is the political vision to make sure optometry is able to provide the care patients need."
Under the proposed plan, Labour would seek to extend eye care services in the community utilising the 6,000 High Street optical practices across the UK to provide more care outside of hospital and closer to home.
The AOP’s Sight won’t wait campaign, launched in March 2023, has been calling for a national approach to eye care services to tackle waiting times: www.aop.org.uk/sightwontwait
For more information, please contact Serena Box, Head of Media, PR and External Affairs, at the Association of Optometrists, [email protected] or telephone 020 7549 2040.
Notes to Editors
Association of Optometrists
The Association of Optometrists (AOP) is the voice of the optical profession, representing over 80% of practising 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