Devolution shows the way

Professionals from Scotland and Wales were invited to speak on eye care provision at a meeting of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Eye Health and Visual Impairment last Wednesday.

‘There are some interesting developments in Scotland and Wales and it would be useful to see what lessons can be learnt from the other parts of the UK when it comes to the provision of those services in England,’ said chair Sandra Gidley MP.

Frank Munro, optometrist and former chair of Optometry Scotland, explained that Scotland’s aim was to develop a system of on-going eye care from birth to death. Challenges to this included patient access to services, professional rivalry, lack of public awareness about eye health issues and the lack of funding for enhanced services.