College enters debate about kids' screening

Health for All Children, now in its fourth edition, has the message that 'prevention is better than cure, early detection is better than late diagnosis', and is co-written by the president of the Royal College of Paediatrics.
A College spokeswoman said the book suggested that children's vision should be screened on school entry but did not advocate any screening thereafter. 'It says that if screening in secondary schools already occurs then it should continue, but only on a single occasion, and no new screening should be introduced.'
This would lead to a decreased service with no vision screening at all after the age of five in most primary and junior schools, and, at best, only one vision screening in senior schools. 'The College feels that the standard of vision screening in our secondary schools should be improved, not curtailed,' she said. 'Although any child can have a full eye examinationÉpaid for by the NHS, the College is concerned that many parents do not take advantage of this opportunity and some eye problems are likely to remain undetected in children from areas of high social disadvantage.'
Professor Bruce Evans, a College member, said: 'A good vision screening system in secondary schools would give all children an equal opportunity for good eyesight. The new edition of Health for All Children is likely to increase inequities.'