If the strength of ‘one voice’ particularly when dealing with government, was ever in doubt, events of this past week should have confirmed it.
Those attending 100% Optical recently saw Alistair Burt, our new ‘optics minister’ in England, speaking about the importance of eye health and applauding our ambitious plans for expanding services in the community.
We then learned that the Greater Manchester team has successfully secured £500k investment in IT to support such a transformation.
On February 8, the House of Lords debated an amendment to optical legislation to allow the sale over the counter of adjustable focus glasses (which allow an individual to self-adjust the power of each lens -3 to 4+). In advance of the debate, the OC drew up a comprehensive briefing document for ministers and peers to stress the proven public health benefits of regular eye examinations and setting out the sector’s strong concerns that a proposed change to the current legislation for adjustable focus glasses would put much of the work being achieved on eye health education at risk and the public’s wider safety.
Fortunately, the government confirmed that as these devices can already be supplied by registered opticians they had no current plans to change the law.
While we were pleased with the outcome, the debate highlighted the need for further education on public health issues and getting government to better understand the real work of community opticians in caring for the eyes of the nation. The sector needs to up its game in the education of those involved with public health at the highest levels. This must remain our number one priority.
