LOCSU Contribute to Specsavers’ Access to Care Report
1 October 2026
LOCSU has recently contributed to Specsavers’ 2026 Access to Care report, combining research and expertise from across the sector to show why community-based care must play a bigger role in the future of health services.
The report shines an important light on primary eye care and enhanced services – many of which are based on LOCSU’s national pathways – and was used this week to influence policy at the Labour Party Conference.
Access to Care combines policy analysis, patient experiences and insight from across the optometry and audiology sectors. LOCSU’s main contribution came under frailty, an area in which LOCSU is once again shaping pathways to meet health and social care priorities.
The report highlights that up to 50% of care home residents have sight loss. Poor vision is a major contributor to avoidable falls, leading to hospital admissions that cost the NHS up to £28 million annually.
Earlier this year, LOCSU published our Vision, Healthy Ageing and Frailty position statement, setting out why primary care optometry must be a key partner in health and social care pathway design, prevention, frailty management and neighbourhood care.
Janice Foster, LOCSU CEO, said: “Great care for all means ensuring that older people and care home residents are not left behind.
“LOCSU calls on commissioners and system leaders to make vision a core component of healthy ageing and frailty strategies, strengthen domiciliary and care home eye care, and engage primary care optometry as a strategic asset to improving access, outcomes and independence for some of the most vulnerable people in our communities.”
LOCSU are keen to ensure optometry – alongside primary care as a whole – is an integral and valued partner in NHS and health and social care discussions.
Access to Care shows that delivering more NHS eye care through primary care optometry could improve access, reduce pressure on hospitals and deliver further economic growth.
You can read the full report here.