Optometry Scotland Considers Scottish Health Bill

Optometry Scotland considered the implications of the Smoking, Health and Social Care (Scotland) Bill, which aims to implement the Scottish Executive’s “free eye checks for all by 2007” pledge, at its full committee meeting in Glasgow on 12th January. The meeting heard that OS has been actively involved in the debate on how best to realise the Executive’s aspirations for free eyecare for everyone whilst ensuring that the best use is made of finite resources.

OS Chairman Hal Rollason said: “The Health Bill currently before the Parliament’s Health Committee is one of the most important pieces of work that OS has been involved with in its short existence. We are very much involved in the debate, having been an integral part of the Executive’s Eyecare Review Body for some time now. Our report to Scottish Ministers should be completed by March this year. At the same time, we have also made our views known to the members of the Health Committee via written and verbal briefings. I think everybody is determined to make eyecare delivery in Scotland a model for the rest of the UK and beyond, and it is the first opportunity since 1948 that we have had such an opportunity to bring eyecare into the modern world. It is a once in a generation opportunity and OS is committed to making the most of it.”

<< back