Community optometry highlighted at Labour and Conservative conferences

COMMUNITY optometry’s critical role in caring for patients has been highlighted at the Labour and Conservative conferences

Health Secretary Steve Barclay was among hundreds of people visiting a Specsavers stand at both events.

Experts from Specsavers took the opportunity to engage with other senior politicians, journalists and organisations about how community optometry and audiology support the NHS and patients, including Shadow Health Secretary Wes Streeting and Welsh First Minister Mark Drakeford.

Overall, the eye and ear health of hundreds of people attending the conferences was checked by Specsavers optometrists and audiologists, using an OCT machine and an otoscope. The optometrist team referred several people on for further investigation.

‘The role of prevention and primary care in the nation’s health were highlighted by politicians at both conferences – and community optometry and audiology are well placed to help deliver efficiencies in these areas,’ says Giles Edmonds, Clinical Services Director at Specsavers.

‘So, it was fantastic to be able to talk to thousands of people about how our sector supports patients and the NHS, and how we are ready and able to do more. We shared our new Access to Care report, which sets out how the sector and government can work together to enable positive change.

‘Specsavers’ purpose is about changing lives through better sight and hearing – and our colleagues helped show how we do that at the conferences.’

Spotlight on access to care for people experiencing homelessness

Access to eye care for people experiencing homelessness was also discussed at fringe events, supported by Specsavers, at both conferences.

The meetings were in support of Specsavers’s work to improve access to care for people experiencing homelessness, which includes partnering with organisations such as Vision Care for Homeless People, The Big Issue and Crisis.

Speakers included Specsavers practice partner Stephen Pratt and Big Issue vendor Will Payne – both who have lived experience of homelessness – and Adam Sampson, Chief Executive of the Association of Optometrists, as well as Specsavers Clinical Services Director Giles Edmonds.

‘Access to care should be there for people regardless of their circumstances,’ said Mr Pratt, a partner of Specsavers Crayford.

Mr Payne, who lives in Bristol, said that there is still a journey ahead in terms of access to care, but that it was improving thanks to Specsavers and the Big Issue.

Mr Sampson paid tribute to his fellow speakers with lived experience, adding: ‘We are talking about releasing the potential of amazing human beings.’

Greg Hurst, Head of Communications and Public Affairs, Centre for Homelessness Impact and Felicity Buchan, Minister for Housing and Homelessness, also spoke at the meeting at the Conservative conference.

Chris Thomas, head of the Commission on Health and Prosperity at the IPPR think tank, hosted the meeting at the Labour conference and was joined by Preet Kaur Gill, Shadow Minister for Primary Care and Public Health.