National eye health strategy

That this House recognises that over two million people in the UK are living with conditions which cause sight loss; notes that 250 people lose their sight every day and sight loss costs the UK economy £36 billion per year; further notes that NHS eye care services are facing significant pressures, with ophthalmology accounting for almost ten per cent of NHS waiting lists; and calls for the development of a National Eye Care Strategy which would focus on improved health outcomes, eliminate the postcode lottery of eye care treatment, address the inequities in access to, and provision of, eye care services, reduce the backlog, ensure positive patient experiences, ensure providers of care are joined up, maximise workforce capacity and skills and make better use of research and innovation.