The specification was developed by the Local Optical Committee Support Unit (LOCSU) in partnership with the Clinical Council for Eye Health Commissioning (CCEHC), and through wide-sector collaboration including the College of Optometrists, and the Royal College of Ophthalmologists, who also provided their clinical endorsement. It was produced following a ministerial request in September 2023.
The clinical and quality standards set out in the specification are designed to support local optical committees and local commissioners in their task of improving eye health and providing high quality clinical care for patients.
Primary Care Minister Andrea Leadsom said: “This government is working hard to reduce pressure on the NHS and improve patient outcomes – including exploring a greater role for community optometry.
“That is why in September last year the government asked for this piece of work to be taken forward, and I am grateful to LOCSU and CCEHC for their role in leading it. This will help local commissioners get the best outcomes if they choose to commission these services as part of their local eye care provision. I’m also thankful to our hard-working optometrists delivering important front-line eyecare on our high streets for those that need it.”
Zoe Richmond, LOCSU Clinical Director, said: “The new clinical specification has been developed through wide sector collaboration and provides local leaders with an opportunity to improve access to minor and urgent eye care on the high street, delivering optimal first contact care with better utilisation of the highly qualified workforce available in optometric practice.
“The clinical specification is deliberately high level, setting out the standard of care our patients should expect whilst allowing local leaders flexibility to respond to local needs with opportunity for growth and development. Through this work we aim to build on the well-established pockets of excellence in England, helping to improve consistency, reduce unwarranted variation and encourage a cycle of continuous improvement.”
This specification was developed through wide sector collaboration using an evidenced-based approach, learning from established local minor and urgent primary eye care services and expert opinion from across the eye care sector.