Children in Surrey offered faster service

The screening pathway will allow parents whose children fail their vision screening at school the choice of taking their child to either a community practice or orthoptic department at the Mayday Eye Unit.
Optometrist and chairman of the LOC Christopher Kerr explained: 'The advantage of going to the community optometrist is that you can probably see them immediately, instead of the three months' wait at the hospital.'
Kerr said that the LOC has accredited particular practices and developed communications systems so that central reporting to the trust takes place.
Parents will be given a list by the team of school nursing practitioners who have been accredited to carry out follow-up examinations.
The LOC cannot ensure that parents will use one of the accredited practitioners, but, said Kerr, it would be strongly recommending that they did. The dozen practitioners involved are using new forms for the project, and the LOC is looking for new practices to become involved.
Those interested should contact the LOC secretary, Sue Kavanagh, on 01883 380289.