00:00According to new research, hayfever-related eye conditions alone make up 1.35 million
00:07GP appointments each year. As such, many people in the UK with eye-related conditions are
00:12reportedly unnecessarily turning to GPs instead of eye specialists. This is thought to be
00:17placing avoidable pressure on overburdened GP services. These figures show that GP practices
00:23are delivering 2 million more appointments a month compared to pre-pandemic figures.
00:28But even so, it's further reported that patients are facing issues securing an appointment
00:34as a result and are having to wait up to a month in parts of the UK whilst others are
00:39turning to private care. In extreme cases, these waits are thought to be putting patients'
00:44vision at risk. The Association of Optometrists have said the current system is
00:49quote failing patients and is calling on the next government in NHS England to support
00:54a minor and urgent eye care pathway created by the optometry sector in order to improve
01:00eye care in the local community.
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