Focus On Eyecare As Consultation Opens

Eyecare was literally in focus this week as a consultation to improve provision in Northern Ireland was launched by the Health Minister Edwin Poots.

The consultation, 'Developing Eyecare Partnerships, Improving Eyecare Provision in Northern Ireland', aims to improve the services offered to those living with sight problems and encourages a partnership approach to ensure we make best use of the current services available.

Launching the consultation, the Stormont Health Minister said: "There are currently 52,000 people in Northern Ireland living with sight problems.

"When eyesight is poor and begins to fail, the effects can be devastating.

"People find it more difficult to interact with others, look after themselves in the same way and enjoy the simple pleasures in life like reading a book or watching a good movie," he said.

"Good eyesight is an invaluable gift and we all need to take better care of our eyes and keep them healthy.

"I am committed to improving eyecare services for patients in Northern Ireland and to achieve this we will need to aim for more effective partnership working among all the professionals involved," the DUP politician said.

"The arrangements proposed in this document will take our services forward in the right direction and result in better care for patients."

The Minister concluded: "I would like to give my thanks to members of the Strategy Drafting Group who contributed to the development of this strategy, particularly to all clinicians involved, including the Ophthalmologists and Optometry NI.

"I would urge everyone to consider this document and use this consultation process to make their views known and influence how future services for eyecare in Northern Ireland are developed. The consultation ends on 24 October 2011."

See: DHSSPSNI

(BMcC/GK)