Primary Eyecare Services Appoints Service Development Director

24 February 2023

Primary Eyecare Services is pleased to welcome Richard Everitt as our new Service Development Director.

Richard joins us from NHS England where he was the Senior programme Lead for Optometry.

Over a 5-year period he managed all optometry related matters within primary care and led workstreams including IT connectivity, the development of the COVID Urgent Eyecare Service (CUES), plus the design and implementation of the Special Schools Eye Care Service.

Dharmesh Patel, ​Chief Executive Officer, Primary Eyecare Services said:

“We are delighted to have Richard join the senior leadership team at Primary Eyecare Services. He brings unique skills and extensive experience to lead our Service Development team, supporting our collective effort alongside local optical committee partners to maximise patient care delivered in Optometry practices via Primary Eyecare Services.”

Richard has spent most of his career in the private sector working in senior commercial roles for blue-chip companies including Mars Ltd, 20th Century Fox, and Procter & Gamble, with whom he spent a total of 13 years. He first moved into the public sector in 2013 when he joined Herefordshire CCG leading a transformation programme to modify and improve services at Wye Valley Trust.

As for his new position with Primary Eyecare Services he said:

“In my role as Service Development Director, I shall be supporting the ongoing development of current PES services and working with colleagues and stakeholders to support the commissioning of new services. I am looking forward to this challenge at an exciting and critical phase for PES and Optometry more widely.”

Richard joins an experienced leadership team. More information about the team can be found by clicking here.