House of Lords argues optics’ case on Health Bill

Efforts to extend practitioners’ scope of practice were taken up by politicians in the House of Lords during the latest debates on the Health Bill.

Their concerns follow lobbying by optics’ professional bodies, which included a special briefing for members earlier this year to improve their understanding of the profession’s role.

Those peers who attended that briefing, which was held in March, last week told the Upper House of the importance of optometry’s contribution to the Health Service, and brought others up to date with projects and initiatives that could influence the outcome of the GOS Review.

Earl Howe, praising the PEARS scheme in Wales – which has ‘proved its worth by making services more accessible to patients, reducing pressure on GPs and preventing unnecessary referrals’ – said it would seem logical to apply its principles to England, and moved an amendment aimed at introducing this.

Baroness Cumberlege supported her colleague, and said: ‘I am aware that the government believe in evidence; we have some very good evidence from both Scotland and Wales.’

Although the amendment was eventually withdrawn, speaking for the government Lord Warner said: ‘We are sympathetic to the thinking behind it.’ He  promised that the GOS Review would  take into account the scope for other professions to contribute to primary eye care services. 

In another debate on the concern that children entering school no longer automatically receive eye tests, an amendment was tabled to make sure PCTs carry a responsibility to have ‘adequate provision in the area’.

Responding for the government, Baroness Royall of Blaisdon said that it agreed about the value and importance of early detection of eye defects in children, although the need for children’s vision screening was already being met.

Although this amendment was also eventually withdrawn, Heather Marshall, public affairs adviser to AOP/FODO/ABDO, said the debates were important as they helped clarify the government’s position on these matters.