Keeping Safeguarding In Sight: How Opticians Are Helping To Prevent Harm Every Day
17 November 2025
Safeguarding Adults Week starts today. We are taking the opportunity to recognise the vital role opticians play in keeping both adult and child patients safe in day to day practice.
Why Opticians Matter in Safeguarding
Opticians are uniquely placed to detect early signs of abuse, neglect or coercion. During routine consultations, they may notice avoidable injuries such as orbital bruising, inconsistencies in patient histories, delayed attendance or anxious behaviour when companions dominate conversations. These seemingly small details can be the first indicators of wider safeguarding concerns.
Safeguarding in Action: Supporting the NHS 10 Year Plan
The current NHS 10 Year Plan sets out a vision for prevention, early intervention and care closer to home. The following key messages highlight how safeguarding in optical practice directly supports these NHS priorities:
- Care closer to home: Delivering urgent and routine eye care locally helps vulnerable adults and children access support when needed, reducing unnecessary hospital visits.
- Acting early: Training enables teams to recognise warning signs — from “Was Not Brought” appointments to indicators of neglect or abuse — and work with GPs and safeguarding leads before crises develop.
- Smart, joined-up systems: Secure digital tools such as our IT system support the safe recording, sharing, and escalation of concerns.
- Empowering every voice: Encouraging curiosity and open dialogue helps staff and patients feel confident to speak up. Training is available through the DOCET modules and information on where to refer is available within the NHS Safeguarding app
- Building safer communities: Embedding safeguarding in daily care helps reduce health inequalities and build resilient, healthier communities.
Turning Awareness into Action: How to Respond to Concerns
Understanding how to turn these national ambitions into daily reality is important – but knowing exactly what to do if you suspect abuse is equally as critical. Best practice protocols recommend a clear five-step approach for optical staff to adopt when they suspect a safeguarding issue:
2. Discuss – raise concerns with a safeguarding lead or seek advice from local teams.
3. Act – make a referral to the local authority safeguarding team, providing clear evidence.
4. Confirm – follow up referrals in writing and ensure they are acknowledged.
5. Record – document all actions confidentially and separately from the clinical record.
Note: If someone is in immediate danger, the police should be contacted without delay.
Understanding Risk and Vulnerability
While there is no definitive UK figure for how often optical practices identify domestic abuse, we know the risk is significant – especially among those with sight loss. This means vigilance in everyday practice is critical.
For Further Information
- Guidance published by the Optical Confederation: Safeguarding, Mental Capacity. Deprivation of Liberties and the Prevent Strategy