How Labour can end the eye care crisis

Labour is rightly paying close attention to ophthalmology because challenges in the specialty — such as the long backlogs it faces and the potential to deliver more in primary and community care — align with its priorities for the NHS. The numbers are stark: more than 600,000 people are waiting for a first appointment with an ophthalmologist in England.

More worryingly, many more are waiting for follow-up appointments, and these people are often at greater risk of irreversible sight loss if they’re not treated promptly. In 2023, the think tank Reform found ophthalmology was the specialty with the most follow-up waits, at 10,000 per NHS trust.

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Source: HSJ, 30 July 2024