Under new proposals the sector will be able to provide a wider range of medications to treat minor eye conditions, making it easier for patients to get care closer to home and drive down pressure on GPs and hospitals
The Association of Optometrists (AOP) has welcomed a new consultation launched by the Department of Health and Social care on access to medicines for optometrists and contact lens opticians.
Adam Sampson said: “This announcement is good news and rightly focuses on ensuring the public can access treatment for common conditions such as conjunctivitis and hay fever, closer to home.
“Research we carried out with members and the public revealed that 2 million GP and A&E appointments every year are taken up to deal with eye health issues that optometrists are trained to manage.
“Ensuring optometry can provide the public with a wider range of medicines in the community is essential – we have to stop forcing people to take on the 8am dash for a GP or hospital appointment to treat minor eye conditions. The Pharmacy First scheme has shown there is a better way to provide care to the public, and this plan builds on that success.”
Dr Peter Hampson, Optometrist and Clinical and Policy Director at the AOP, said: “Our sector has the premises, the equipment and the clinical skills to deliver specialist eye care for a range of conditions. But the profession’s potential is currently being restricted by outdated exemptions within the Human Medicines Regulations, which too often means optometry has to redirect patients to their GP so that they can be given simple medications for allergies. Widening the access of medicines for all optometrists and contact lens opticians will transform the experience for the public.”
“Commissioned MECS and CUES services, that do so much more, are already shown to take pressure off the NHS. This announcement supports the success of those services and improves care for patients.”
The AOP will be responding to DHSC’s consultation.
The AOP’s co-commissioned report, produced by PA Consulting, ‘Key interventions to transform eye care and eye health in England’, calls for a national roll-out of a minor and urgent eye care service to tackle the postcode lottery in eye care and bring specialist services to every community.