Taking eye and ear health to Labour and Conservative conferences

SPECSAVERS is taking its mission to improve eye and ear health to the Labour and Conservative conferences – with care minister Stephen Kinnock joining a key panel discussion.

The role of primary optometry and audiology supporting patients and the NHS will be the focus of Specsavers’ conference programme engaging policy makers and delegates alike. The Labour conference takes place in Liverpool from Sunday 22 September to Wednesday 25 September, while the Conservatives are holding theirs in Birmingham from 29 September to 2 October.

‘The government and opposition parties are grappling with a range of challenges facing the NHS,’ says Specsavers clinical services director Giles Edmonds. ‘Community optometry and audiology are already a key part of the NHS – but stand ready and able to do even more for patients in support of the health service.

‘We are part of the solution. It’s exactly why we are at the party conferences to share this positive message with delegates and policy makers.’

Care minister Stephen Kinnock has responsibility for primary care – including eye and GP care in England – and will be on the panel at a Specsavers fringe event at the Labour conference.

‘The event is focusing on how primary care can support NHS recovery, a topic that is very timely given the recent publication of the Darzi review into the state of the NHS in England,’ adds Mr Edmonds. ‘The review highlighted challenges facing the service, stressing the need for a greater move towards neighbourhood care – something that we can support the NHS achieve.

‘I’m looking forward to being part of the panel with Mr Kinnock, along with Rachel Sylvester, the chair of The Times Health Commission, at the Specsavers fringe event at the ACC Liverpool conference venue on Tuesday 24 September.’

Optometrists and audiologists will also be providing eye and ear health checks on the Specsavers stand at the Labour conference as part of its conference programme.