Optrafair debate: Can technology take the place of clinicians and save the NHS money?

Moot debates hosted by the Spectacle Makers have become regular feature of many optical events. Optrafair was no exception and the Association of British Dispensing Opticians offered the SMC its lecture theatre on the Sunday afternoon to host its latest.

What was at issue was whether technology can replace clinicians. The Spectacle Makers Debate took the form of a four way discussion with a panel of four luminaries overseen by former Optical Confederation chair Don Grocott.

Introducing the light-hearted Spectacle Makers debate chairman, Grocott posed the motion that: This House believes that technology can replace the clinician and that, in a time of austerity, the Nation can no longer afford sight tests by trained professionals.