Scotland wins £10m

Scotland's public health minister, Shona Robison, unveiled a £10m package to improve the country's eye care services at the first Scottish Optometric Conference held in Glasgow last weekend.

Robison said a total of £8m capital funding would be distributed to optical practices providing NHS eye examinations to enable every practice in Scotland to purchase a digital fundus camera and other equipment such as pachymeters and gonio lenses. A further £2.6m will be made available to NHS Boards in Scotland to aid the establishment of low vision care networks.

'In my short time as Minster of Public Health I have been very impressed by the optical profession's commitment to improving the health of the nation and the desire to expand the services which you can provide on behalf of the NHS,' Robison told delegates. 'I look forward to continuing to work with the profession in the future to ensure that the people of Scotland benefit from the best eye care services possible.'