Shaping the future? The UK Vision Strategy

The UK Vision Strategy is due for launch in April 2008. The objectives behind this strategy were developed earlier this year, by representatives from all stakeholders, including health care professionals, service organisers and end users. The primary aim is to establish a unified framework for action on all issues relating to vision and sight loss across all four countries of the UK.

The UK Vision Strategy aims to:

• improve the eye health of the nation
• prevent sight loss and radically improve services
• ensure support and inclusion for those with sight loss

The strategy is a Vision 2020 UK initiative, led by the RNIB in association with NALSVI, Action for Blind People and Guide Dogs for the Blind Association. The initial consultation document, launched this month is now available to view on the Vision 2020 website.

As eye care practitioners we are in a prime position to offer feedback; the strategy affects us all in how we develop our services to the public and indeed, how we develop our professions, both optometry and dispensing, in the coming months and years.

Feedback to the initial consultation document is requested by 17th January. A number of road shows have now begun across the country. It is expected that the optometry profession will be well represented at these events:

16 November 2007 - Cardiff
22 November 2007 - Birmingham
4 December 2007 - Edinburgh
11 December 2007 - Belfast
13 December 2007 - Gateshead
8 January 2008 - London
9 January 2008 - London
15 January 2008 - Exeter

Download a draft copy of the UK Vision Strategy consultation document. 

I would like to see a radical change in the way low vision services are delivered and would welcome a shift in emphasis from delivering practical advice and low vision aids into the high street setting. Approximately half of all optometrists in Wales are accredited to provide low vision services at a local level under the Welsh Eyecare Initiative, with training and accreditation programmes funded by the National Assembly for Wales.

Would this be of interest to us in the rest of the UK?

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