MPs investigate laser surgery safety record

The forum, which has been brought about after MPs noted public concern at the adverse outcome of some Lasik procedures, will include Frank Cook MP, deputy speaker in Westminster Hall, and Professor Ian Gibson MP, chair of the science and technology select committee.
In their invitation to the meeting Ð to be held on Tuesday, February 10 Ð the two MPs write: 'We are keen to allay anxiety as soon as possible and highlight measures that might be adopted by the Government in cooperation with the professionals to reduce and eventually remove altogether the causes of concern evidenced today.'
Cook, who will be chairing the meeting, told optician: 'To date, the profession has been left to regulate itself.'
The forum is being seen as an opportunity to put forward industry standards and accreditations and nine clinics have been invited to attend, as well as patients, members of the public and parliamentary members.
Among those who will represent the refractive sector will be Sheraz Daya, medical director at the refractive surgery the Centre for Sight.
'Safety has always been the number one priority for us here at Centre for Sight,' he said this week. 'We strive to offer the most advanced patient treatments available to ensure we remain at the forefront of our profession.'
The forum will take place less than a week after a debate in the House of Commons on the safety of laser eye surgery.
The debate was established by Labour's Dr Ashok Kumar MP, who represents Middlesbrough South and Cleveland East. Kumar is a former research fellow at Imperial College, London, and the author of a number of papers published in scientific and mathematical journals. He told optician he was aware of growing concerns about the sector and he first tried to hold a debate on safety in the refractive sector last year after articles in the media related individual stories of procedures which had been unsuccessful.
'I tabled a question to a health minister,' he said, 'and received a response from him which said as most laser eye procedures took place in the private sector the DoH did not collect information about individual procedures by individual surgeons.'
The MP said that refractive surgery was a 'great innovation' but he hoped the debate would lead to minimum standards being set across the industry.
'It's a growing sector, and someone's got to monitor it,' he commented. 'Some benchmarks Ð such as the ones established by the Eye Laser Association Ð should be made, and training requirements improved for staff who work with directors in the clinics.'
Read the details from this week's Commons debate on www.optometryonline.net
david.challinorrbi.co.ukRepresentatives from the refractive surgery sector will be probed by MPs in the House of Commons next week in a forum on the safety of laser eye surgery. It follows last Wednesday's adjournment debate on the safety of laser eye surgery.
The forum, which has been brought about after MPs noted public concern at the adverse outcome of some Lasik procedures, will include Frank Cook MP, deputy speaker in Westminster Hall, and Professor Ian Gibson MP, chair of the science and technology select committee.
In their invitation to the meeting Ð to be held on Tuesday, February 10 Ð the two MPs write: 'We are keen to allay anxiety as soon as possible and highlight measures that might be adopted by the Government in cooperation with the professionals to reduce and eventually remove altogether the causes of concern evidenced today.'
Cook, who will be chairing the meeting, told optician: 'To date, the profession has been left to regulate itself.'
The forum is being seen as an opportunity to put forward industry standards and accreditations and nine clinics have been invited to attend, as well as patients, members of the public and parliamentary members.
Among those who will represent the refractive sector will be Sheraz Daya, medical director at the refractive surgery the Centre for Sight.
'Safety has always been the number one priority for us here at Centre for Sight,' he said this week. 'We strive to offer the most advanced patient treatments available to ensure we remain at the forefront of our profession.'
The forum will take place less than a week after a debate in the House of Commons on the safety of laser eye surgery.
The debate was established by Labour's Dr Ashok Kumar MP, who represents Middlesbrough South and Cleveland East. Kumar is a former research fellow at Imperial College, London, and the author of a number of papers published in scientific and mathematical journals. He told optician he was aware of growing concerns about the sector and he first tried to hold a debate on safety in the refractive sector last year after articles in the media related individual stories of procedures which had been unsuccessful.
'I tabled a question to a health minister,' he said, 'and received a response from him which said as most laser eye procedures took place in the private sector the DoH did not collect information about individual procedures by individual surgeons.'
The MP said that refractive surgery was a 'great innovation' but he hoped the debate would lead to minimum standards being set across the industry.
'It's a growing sector, and someone's got to monitor it,' he commented. 'Some benchmarks Ð such as the ones established by the Eye Laser Association Ð should be made, and training requirements improved for staff who work with directors in the clinics.'
Read the details from this week's Commons debate on www.optometryonline.net
david.challinorrbi.co.ukRepresentatives from the refractive surgery sector will be probed by MPs in the House of Commons next week in a forum on the safety of laser eye surgery. It follows last Wednesday's adjournment debate on the safety of laser eye surgery.
The forum, which has been brought about after MPs noted public concern at the adverse outcome of some Lasik procedures, will include Frank Cook MP, deputy speaker in Westminster Hall, and Professor Ian Gibson MP, chair of the science and technology select committee.
In their invitation to the meeting Ð to be held on Tuesday, February 10 Ð the two MPs write: 'We are keen to allay anxiety as soon as possible and highlight measures that might be adopted by the Government in cooperation with the professionals to reduce and eventually remove altogether the causes of concern evidenced today.'
Cook, who will be chairing the meeting, told optician: 'To date, the profession has been left to regulate itself.'
The forum is being seen as an opportunity to put forward industry standards and accreditations and nine clinics have been invited to attend, as well as patients, members of the public and parliamentary members.
Among those who will represent the refractive sector will be Sheraz Daya, medical director at the refractive surgery the Centre for Sight.
'Safety has always been the number one priority for us here at Centre for Sight,' he said this week. 'We strive to offer the most advanced patient treatments available to ensure we remain at the forefront of our profession.'
The forum will take place less than a week after a debate in the House of Commons on the safety of laser eye surgery.
The debate was established by Labour's Dr Ashok Kumar MP, who represents Middlesbrough South and Cleveland East. Kumar is a former research fellow at Imperial College, London, and the author of a number of papers published in scientific and mathematical journals. He told optician he was aware of growing concerns about the sector and he first tried to hold a debate on safety in the refractive sector last year after articles in the media related individual stories of procedures which had been unsuccessful.
'I tabled a question to a health minister,' he said, 'and received a response from him which said as most laser eye procedures took place in the private sector the DoH did not collect information about individual procedures by individual surgeons.'
The MP said that refractive surgery was a 'great innovation' but he hoped the debate would lead to minimum standards being set across the industry.
'It's a growing sector, and someone's got to monitor it,' he commented. 'Some benchmarks Ð such as the ones established by the Eye Laser Association Ð should be made, and training requirements improved for staff who work with directors in the clinics.'
Read the details from this week's Commons debate on www.optometryonline.net
david.challinorrbi.co.uk