The pandemic caused whole-system disruption to health services. However, it provided the opportunity, in the wake of the pandemic, to redesign service delivery, ensuring sustainable models for the future. Therefore, with people starting to feel more confident about accessing care outside hospital settings, we now, more than ever, need to adopt a shared care model in providing eye health care. The resources that NHS Wales has are limited, so we need to take the opportunities to transform services, in the way that has been presented in the document 'Future Approach for Optometry Services'.

The NHS has to take advantage of non-medical advanced practice, by moving more services into primary care. The 'Future Approach for Optometry Services' document is based on work and extensive consultation. The document was approved by key stakeholders, including Optometry Wales and the Royal College of Ophthalmologists, and work is now under way to consider further the potential costs in terms of developing the agreed future approach. 

In order to help to move the provision to primary care, we will need to amend the optometry contract and increase the number of optometrists who have additional qualifications. To achieve the best outcome from investment, the Welsh Government will continue to talk to stakeholders, to ensure that optometry services are appropriately funded. We as a society will benefit by investing in a skilled workforce and ensuring that patients can obtain services more easily and have better outcomes.

Unlike other professions, such as general medical services, pharmacy and dentistry, optometry doesn't have a contract. This is therefore a unique opportunity to decide on the best approach for the future. We have considered and learnt from what we have done in the past, to ensure that legislative changes are made to deliver the best outcome for patients and for health professionals. And we have learned lessons from that. If optometry works with NHS Wales in a new, strategic and collaborative partnership, which will build on already strong foundations that have already been set, future eye care will certainly improve.

Of course, we will need to monitor the new contract arrangements carefully. We will establish a new national Wales eye care service committee, which will have a clear terms of reference, including performance management against contractual obligations and deliverable patient outcomes. Generally, if we are to succeed, we will have to see changing behaviours from the public, and we have to agree to think about what we are doing in terms of the patient's circumstances. Patients don't always understand the difference between primary and secondary care, but they do understand the need for good eye health care. 

'The Future Approach for Optometry Services' describes the new ways of working and clinical pathways. With a new contract for general ophthalmic services underpinning this, this innovative future approach ensures that Wales's eye care services will continue to lead the way across the UK. Thank you.