Dharmesh Patel, Chief Executive of Primary Eyecare Services, joins Tara to explore how optometry can transform the future of primary care.

As the NHS shifts more services into the community, Dharmesh explains how local opticians can become a frontline defense, easing hospital pressure while improving access to essential eye care.

Dharmesh shares his perspective on the financial, ethical, and structural challenges facing the sector, from underfunded NHS sight tests to the need for stronger collaboration within primary care networks.

Takeaways:

• The NHS 10 year plan and what it means for community based eye care.

• How local optometrists can help relieve pressure on hospitals.

• Funding and ethical challenges within UK optometry.

• Groundbreaking initiatives such as hypertension case-finding in optometry.

• The importance of collaboration with GPs, dentists, and pharmacists.

• How integrated primary care can improve patient outcomes and local economies.

Visit the Primary Eyecare website here.

Visit the Primary Eyecare Services LinkedIn here.

Work with me   

I'm Tara Humphrey and I'm the founder of THC Primary Care, a leading healthcare consultancy. I provide project and network management to Primary Care Networks and consulting support to clinical leads. To date, I've worked with 11 Training Hubs and supported over 120 Primary Care Networks and 3 GP Federations. 

I understand and appreciate the complexity of healthcare and what it takes to deliver projects across multiple practices.   

I have over 20 years of project management and business development experience across the private and public sector and have an MBA in Leadership and Management in Healthcare. I'm also published in the London Journal of Primary Care and the author of over 250 blogs.   

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