Dharmesh Patel, CEO, shares his Vision for the Future of Community Eye Care
18 August 2026
Primary Eyecare Services CEO Dharmesh Patel discusses the future of community eye care and optometry on the Behind the Eyes podcast.
Primary Eyecare Services’ Chief Executive Officer, Dharmesh Patel, has shared his perspective on the future of community eye care and the evolving role of optometry during a recent two-part appearance on the ‘Behind the Eyes’ podcast, hosted by Adam Ormrod.
In conversation with host Adam Ormrod, Dharmesh reflected on his career journey and the growth of Primary Eyecare Services from a small Greater Manchester organisation supporting enhanced community services to a national provider working with more than 2,400 optical practices and supporting over one million patient episodes annually.
The discussion explored the increasing role of community optometry in delivering care closer to home and helping address growing demand across NHS services. Dharmesh highlighted how enhanced services delivered through optical practices are supporting patients to access timely care while reducing pressures on hospitals and urgent care settings.
The podcast also examined the importance of data, innovation and service development in demonstrating the value of community-based eye care. Dharmesh discussed how initiatives such as the Eye Care Navigation Service are helping patients access the right care, in the right place, at the right time, while supporting the ambitions set out in the NHS 10-Year Plan.
Commenting during the podcast, Dharmesh said:
“When you put yourself outside of your comfort zone, you often discover that you’re capable of far more than you thought. The progress we’ve seen in community eye care has been built on collaboration, innovation and a shared commitment to improving outcomes for patients.”
Addressing the future of the profession, Dharmesh emphasised the importance of continued collaboration between commissioners, providers and practitioners to ensure community eye care services can continue to grow and evolve to meet patient needs.
He also encouraged newly qualified optometrists to engage with local enhanced services, work closely with their Local Optical Committee (LOC) and embrace opportunities for professional development.
The episodes provide insight into the challenges and opportunities facing NHS eye care, as well as the important role community optometry is playing in supporting more accessible, integrated and sustainable services for patients across England.