People back greater use of high street opticians to cut NHS waiting times

With a new survey revealing people’s health deteriorating amid long waits for specialist eye care, Healthwatch England has called for greater use of high street optician services, including optometrists working in optician services, to help cut waiting times. 

An optometrist’s role is to detect defects in vision, signs of injury, ocular diseases or other abnormalities. Optometrists often work alongside other professionals in primary eye care, supporting people with a range of eye problems and referring people for specialist care.  Expanding their role and responsibilities, such as being able to treat patients for a greater range of conditions, would help more people with the most serious eye conditions to be identified and referred for specialist care earlier.

Responses from 1,051 self-selecting people currently waiting for specialist eye care appointments suggest that the vast majority (85%) of people support the idea of optometrists being able to refer patients without seeing a GP first. Over 65% are comfortable with them helping to monitor and treat eye conditions. 

The survey, which asked people to share their experiences of eye care between July and September 2024, found many people struggled while waiting for specialist care: 

• Of those currently waiting, 70% said they noticed some deterioration in vision.
• People currently waiting for eye care reported that long waits affect their ability to continue their hobbies, 75%; mental health, 69%; ability to work, 52%; and relationships, 36%.
• The most common type of support people reported needing was ‘knowing who to contact for further information’ about their care. However, only 14% of people said they knew who to contact.
• Barely any people (4%) said they had been given advice and information to help them with day-to-day activities, such as working. 

Eye care is the busiest outpatient speciality in the NHS in England, and with an ageing population, demand is set to grow further. 

According to NHS statistics, last December nearly 600,000 people were waiting for specialist eye care, a third of whom (33%) had been waiting more than the 18-week target set by the Government.

And getting referred for specialist eye care may be a long process for some. Of those currently waiting, almost a quarter (22%) had to have multiple appointments before being referred.

The patient champion calls for optician services to take on more responsibility for managing people’s eye care and referring them for specialist treatment to help cut waiting times. Additionally, actions such as those proposed in the Optometry First model are needed to improve communications and support for people waiting for eye care.