13 January 2004 - Access to Low Vision Services
Notice of meeting:
Imagine that you are beginning to lose your sight. Everyday tasks such as reading letters or cooking are becoming increasingly difficult. Where do you turn? What help is available to you?
Unfortunately, all too frequently, the necessary support is just not there. But it should be. That would certainly be the view of your 3,000 constituents with serious sight problems. Many of them will not have received a low vision assessment from the local PCT/Health Board. Neither will they have had a social care assessment provided by the local social services or social work department. As a result they will be trying to manage without equipment such as a hand held magnifying glass, task light or liquid level indicator, all of which can make a big difference to quality of life.
How can services be improved for your constituents? Find out at the January meeting of the All Party Group on Eye Health and Visual Impairment. This will be addressed by experts in the field of low vision assessment and equipment. They will describe what a state of the art low vision service can provide and how this can be established in your locality.
Tuesday 27 April 2004 - The Cost of Blindness
Notice of meeting:
Come and hear the findings of new and groundbreaking research into the costs of blindness in the UK. Come and discuss the implications for your constituency.
We are delighted that Rosie Winterton, Minister of State at the Department of Health has also agreed to address the meeting.
15 June 2004 – Beyond the stereotypes: blind and partially sighted people and work
Notice of meeting:
The All Party Parliamentary Group for Eye Health and Visual Impairment will meet on the 15th June to discuss Employment Opportunities for Blind and Partially Sighted People. Fred Reid, Chair of the RNIB Employment Committee, and Stephen Remington, Chief Executive of Action for Blind People, will give talks on the stereotypes encountered when visually impaired people seek employment, and suggest a range of possible solutions.
Tuesday 26 October 2004 - Saving Sight on the High Street
Notice of meeting:
The All Party Parliamentary Group on Eye Health and Visual Impairment will meet on Tuesday 26 October 2004, on the subject of how we can save sight with NHS eye services based on the High Street. The meeting will be from 4.30 to 5.30pm, Committee Room 6, Committee Corridor, The House of Lords.
For almost two years, The National Eye Care Services Steering Group has been working to modernise NHS eyecare services, making better use of Optometrists’ skills, reducing waiting times by treating patients in the community, rather than in hospitals’ busy eye departments.
Improved provision for people with glaucoma, cataracts and Age-related Macular Degeneration should soon become a reality as well as strengthened Low Vision services.
Come and hear the professionals involved in these exciting pilot schemes set out what they have achieved.
- Andrew Kent: Programme Director, NHS Modernisation Agency, Eyecare Services Improvement Programme.
- Kevin Lewis: Vice President, College of Optometrists.
- Ian Hadfield: Clinical Lead, Glaucoma (and ocular hypertension), Chronic Eye Disease Pilot Programme, North Birmingham PCT.