Optics is a good example of what the Health Bill aims to encourage

Writing last weekend’s Observer, under the headline
of ‘Everyone who loves the NHS must fight to defeat this Health Bill’ Ed Milliband posited “this misguided bid to impose a free-for-all market on our health service must be stopped.” From the perspective of our sector the view often espoused by those opposed to the changes being pursued by the current Health Bill appears to be the most wrong-headed when it simplistically argues that NHS is good and private
is bad. As we know well, the NHS services delivered by
High Street optometrists are of the same high standard as the private services they offer – and for a price below which the NHS could deliver itself. We all know the arguments – that this is because of cross-subsidy from the retail market – but regardless, optics provides a good example of the innovation that can emerge if private healthcare providers are encouraged (rather than prevented) to provide NHS services.

 

Wednesday of last week saw the first district general hospital in the history of the NHS to be taken over by a private company. Circle partnership has taken over the running of Hitchingbrooke Hospital in Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire with ambitious plans to eliminate the hospital’s £40m debt and to introduce an ownership scheme with all staff receiving shares.
Although the hospital is small by NHS standards (with annual income of £100m), if successful, the turn-around plans could provide a model for others to follow – and could certainly start to move the tide of opinion against the nay-sayers who thus far, seem unable to accept that private business is capable of being a force for good and has a very legitimate role to play in the future of the NHS.

 

Reports and commentary in the general media over recent weeks have highlighted what we intuitively knew would happen as a result of the rise in university tuition fees due to start this year. According to the British Council, while the UK is still second only to the United States as most popular overseas destination for students – application numbers are already starting to decline. The most recent UCAS data (January) reveals that applications from other EU countries are 11% down compared to last year (these students will face the same fee increases that UK students will face), although this is currently largely compensated by the increase in applications from non-EU countries. With applications for subjects allied to medicine up by 2%, one would think that UK optometry courses are secure (particularly when this is compared to applications for medicine and dentistry which are down by 3%), but the fee increases are only part of the challenge. Of potentially greater impact on optometry departments is the activity of the Home Office and its general tightening of visa applications, making it more difficult for non-EU students – a not insignificant element of the optometry cohort – to complete their training in the UK. Visa requirements are such that non-EU nationals are required to demonstrate they are employed in a job that pays a salary far above that earned by most pre-reg trainees. One potential solution for universities may be to extend the optometry degree programme in order to incorporate the practical experience currently gained during the pre-reg period (the visa required then simply becomes
a student visa, without the same income requirement) as a registerable qualification. And if this is made to work for non-EU students, might it then become the new model for optometry training in the UK? Challenging times create catalysts for change and with pressure for survival as strong in education as it is in business, maybe this is the catalyst that will lead to changes in the UK route to registration for both optometrists and dispensing opticians.