Eye Care Everywhere: Local Access Matters

Access to timely, high-quality eye care should not depend on where you live. Yet across England, patients continue to face inconsistencies in the services available through their local optometrist. That’s why Association of Optometrists (AOP) has launched the Eye Care Everywhere campaign—an ambitious push to ensure equal access to essential eye care services for all.

At Lesley Cree Opticians, we are proud to support this important initiative and advocate for a future where every patient can receive expert care quickly and conveniently in their local communities.

A Simple but Powerful Vision

The Eye Care Everywhere campaign is built around a clear and practical goal:

Every patient in England experiencing an eye problem should be able to book an appointment with a local optometrist under the NHS.

This model mirrors the accessibility of community pharmacies, where patients can already seek help for a wide range of health concerns. Extending this approach to eye care would reduce pressure on GPs and hospitals while improving patient outcomes through faster intervention.

As Adam Sampson, Chief Executive of the AOP, explains “It is vital that the Government acts to ensure that all patients can visit an optician in the community if they think they have an eye problem, in the same way the public can go to a community pharmacy for a range of health issues.”

Why Change Is Needed

Currently, access to enhanced eye care services—such as urgent eye care appointments or management of minor eye conditions—varies significantly depending on location. This “postcode lottery” creates unnecessary barriers for patients and can lead to delays in diagnosis and treatment.

The campaign highlights three key priorities:

• Consistent services nationwide – Every area should offer care beyond the standard sight test
• Enhanced NHS eye care provision – Building on the existing General Ophthalmic Services (GOS) framework
• Sustainable funding – Long-term investment to support growth and innovation in community eye care

Supporting Health Equality

At its heart, Eye Care Everywhere is about fairness. Everyone deserves equal access to healthcare, regardless of geography or circumstance.

That’s why the campaign is aligned with Health Equals, a coalition dedicated to improving health outcomes and tackling inequalities across communities.

By supporting this initiative, Lesley Cree Opticians is reinforcing its commitment not only to clinical excellence, but also to broader health equity—ensuring that no patient is left behind.

Our Commitment at Lesley Cree Opticians

As a community-focused practice, Lesley Cree Opticians sees first-hand the difference accessible eye care can make. From early detection of eye conditions to providing urgent care when symptoms arise, local optometrists play a vital role in protecting both eye health and overall wellbeing.

We believe that:

• Patients should never have to travel far for expert care
• Early intervention should be the norm, not the exception
• Community optometry should be fully integrated into the NHS care pathway

By supporting Eye Care Everywhere, we are advocating for a system that works better for patients, practitioners, and the NHS alike.

In fact our Radcliffe On Trent practice was recently appointed as one of six Nottinghamshire based opticians’ practices chosen to be part of a new NHS pilot to deliver emergency NHS eye care treatment.

Looking Ahead

The future of eye care in England depends on bold, coordinated action. The Eye Care Everywhere campaign offers a clear roadmap—one that prioritises accessibility, sustainability, and equality.

At Lesley Cree Opticians, we are proud to stand behind this vision and will continue to support efforts that bring high-quality eye care closer to every community. Because when it comes to your eye health, where you live should never determine the care you receive.