Optometry Wales wins fee increase of 20%

She was able to tell representatives that the Welsh Assembly government had agreed to a 20 per cent increase in the Welsh Eye Care Initiative fee to £36. They discussed the success of the Welsh eye examination policy and the expansion of the Primary Eyecare Acute Referral Scheme (PEARS) to all of Wales.
Currently there are some 290 accredited optometrists in the scheme out of a total of around 420 within Wales.
A spokesman for Optometry Wales said: 'The minister expressed her enthusiasm for the work being carried out by optometrists, and agreed that her department and Optometry Wales should work on publicising the availability of primary eye care at optometric practices across Wales.'
He said that Optometry Wales would work with officials to agree a publicity brief aimed at increasing knowledge among other healthcare professionals and the public, by concentrating on 'Community First' designated areas.
Other issues discussed Ð in what Optometry Wales chairman Michael Charlton described as a 'constructive and forward-looking' meeting Ð included the benefit of young children having regular eye examinations rather than 'more simplified screening at school', optometrists' participation in the registration of blind and partially sighted patients and the importance of optometrists being involved in the All-Wales Diabetic Retinopathy Screening.
Optometry Wales comprises five LOCs in Wales, the AOP (Welsh Council), ABDO, the College of Optometrists and FODO.
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