Scrivens welcomes NHS 10 year health plan’s focus on community-based Optical and Audiology services
Post on 10th July 2025
Revolutionary changes to optical and hearing care access as government prioritises patient choice and self-referral
The NHS 10 Year Health Plan promises transformative changes for optical and audiology services, with a particular focus on empowering patients with greater choice and control over their eye and hearing care. Looking after people’ health within a community setting, whether in our stores or in neighbourhood health clinics, is what we excel at and this coupled with technology-led health solutions, is at the very heart of this progressive and welcomed 10 year plan for the NHS.
Self-referral breakthrough
The ambitious plan addresses long-standing issues in audiology services by introducing a “direct access, more convenience” approach. Central to this transformation is the announcement that patients will be able to self-refer to audiology services through the new My Specialist tool, with audiology being identified as a priority service on the platform.
For eye care, the plan promises to relieve pressure on outpatient ophthalmology from hospitals into community settings, positioning high street opticians on similar footing to GPs.
This represents a significant shift from the current system, where patients typically face lengthy referral processes and extended waiting times for essential hearing assessments and eye care treatments.
Scrivens leading the way
Established more than 85 years ago, Scrivens Opticians & Hearing Care has long campaigned for affordable and accessible optical and hearing care for all. Today, as one of the UK’s largest providers of NHS hearing care services on the high street, Scrivens continues to advocate for equity between audiology and optical services.
Mark Georgevic, director at Scrivens, said: “We are pleased to see patient choice and control will be strengthened across both audiology and eye care. The plan’s focus on shifting care from hospitals to high-street providers like Scrivens means we’ll be able to offer enhanced clinical responsibility and faster treatment, whilst at the same time reducing pressure on hospital services. This patient-first approach will help us deliver the comprehensive care our patients deserve. We look forward to working with ICBs to improve access to care.”
Addressing the ENT and Ophthalmology crisis
The plan comes at a crucial time, as ENT and ophthalmology departments across the country struggle to meet the 18-week waiting time target. The government’s commitment to restoring the constitutional standard will require fundamental transformation of ear, hearing and eye care services.
By enabling direct access to audiology services and placing even greater emphasis on community eye care, the plan aims to:
- Reduce pressure on overstretched ENT departments and eye hospitals
- Provide faster access to specialist hearing care and eye care
- Deliver services closer to patients’ homes
- Improve overall patient outcomes
Community approach
The broader vision outlined in the 10 Year Health Plan promises to “end the status quo of hospital-by-default” and shift care into community settings. This aligns perfectly with Scrivens’ existing model of providing accessible, high quality audiology and optical services in local communities.
The plan’s emphasis on delivering care “as locally as possible” and embracing digital and home-based services reflects the direction that progressive providers like Scrivens have already been taking. For eye care specifically, the focus on preventative care through regular visits to high street opticians, using technology such as OCT, will decrease reactive hospital referrals and reduce pressure on eye hospitals.
This shift to preventative rather than reactive care means patients can receive faster treatment while reducing wait times for more complex cases.
Looking forward
As the NHS embarks on this transformative journey, Scrivens is more than ready to support the implementation of these changes. The company’s extensive network of optical and hearing care branches positions it well to help deliver the government’s vision of a more accessible, patient-centred hearing and eye care system.
The success of this initiative will depend on effective collaboration between government, Integrated Care Boards (ICBs), and experienced providers like Scrivens who understand both the challenges and opportunities in modern audiology and eye care.
For more information about Scrivens visit scrivens.com.