News
Hampshire MP ‘deeply concerned’ over cuts to community eye health services
Hampshire MP Paul Holmes has criticised ‘retrograde’ plans by local NHS health chiefs to cut community eye health services during a visit to Specsavers in Hedge End, Southampton. The local integrated care board (ICB), which commissions local NHS services, has...
Matt Stringer, RNIB’s Chief Executive Officer commented on the fifth anniversary of start of the Covid-19 pandemic (1)
“The UK was woefully ill-prepared for the Covid-19 pandemic, and indeed any type of pandemic, with regards to the rights and needs of blind and partially sighted people. This anniversary still demonstrates that critical lessons need to be learned to...
College of Optometrists responds to Government’s reform plans for elective care
The College of Optometrists welcomes the Government’s commitment to ensure patients receive the care they need at the right time and the right place. Currently, 600,000 people are on NHS waiting lists to begin treatment for ophthalmology in England, making...
Celebrating 225 years of seeing ability in parliament
This October, the House of Lords provided the venue for charity SeeAbility’s celebration of its 225th-year anniversary, with people it supports, colleagues, volunteers, funders and partners. They were joined by parliamentarians, including the Rt Hon Lord David Blunkett, who sponsored...
Research into headlight glare commissioned by government
The government has commissioned much needed research into the causes of night-time headlight glare, after campaigning involving the College of Optometrists among others. The College spearheaded the lobbying on behalf of the optical sector, in collaboration with colleagues from the...
There will be a 27% rise in the number of people living with sight loss in the UK by 2035, RNIB the UK’s leading sight loss charity predicts
This World Sight Day, leading sight loss charity the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) was calling for the UK Government to prioritise eye health. This is after fresh insight from the charity that shows there will be a...
Free rail travel for blind and partially sighted people and their companions announced for Scotland
Leading sight loss charities have hailed the Scottish Government’s ‘life changing’ decision to provide free rail travel for blind and partially sighted people and their companions, saying this decision will enhance rehabilitation, independence and ensuring people with vision impairment can maintain links with their communities.
AOP welcomes Labour plan on primary care optometry
In a keynote health policy speech at the Institute for Government (IfG) annual conference, Karin Smyth MP committed to working with primary care optometry to reduce hospital waiting times.
College of Optometrists responds to Labour’s partnership plans for eyecare
Shadow Health Minister, Karin Smyth MP, has outlined Labour’s plans to support improved eyecare services.
