Health Minister sees first-hand how Community Optometry is helping transform care

Health Minister sees first-hand how Community Optometry is helping transform care across Northern Ireland

Health Minister Mike Nesbitt MLA with Chair of Optometry NI Brian McKeown and colleagues during a visit to Brogan’s Eyes and Ears practice in Lisburn. l-r: Colm Rooney, Richard McNeight, Health Minister Mike Nesbitt MLA, Brian McKeown, Jill Campbell and Andrew Jess

The Health Minister visited a leading Lisburn eye care practice to see how community optometry is helping patients receive faster treatment closer to home, while reducing pressure on Northern Ireland’s overstretched hospital services.

Hosted by Optometry NI, Mike Nesbitt’s visit to Brogans Eyes & Ears practice showcased how local optometrists are already supporting the Department of Health’s vision for neighbourhood care through its network of local and accessible services.

Brian McKeown Optometry NI Chair said: “We were delighted to show the Health Minister what community optometry does every day to help more patients receive treatment closer to home. In practices right across Northern Ireland our highly trained members are helping people access specialist eye care quickly, in their own communities, while reducing unnecessary pressure in other parts of the health service. With the right investment we can do even more to prevent sight loss, improve patient outcomes and free up valuable hospital capacity.”

During the visit the Health Minister met practice staff, observed advanced diagnostic technology in use and discussed how enhanced community services are reducing demand on hospital eye departments.

Over 47,000 people currently on hospital ophthalmology outpatient waiting lists and demand for eye care continuing to grow, community optometry is keeping more patients out of hospital settings through the Primary Eyecare Assessment and Referral Service (PEARS).

PEARS helps patients who have developed a sudden eye problem within the previous 14 days, such as red eye; pain or discomfort in the eyes; sudden reduction in vision in one or both eyes or increase of flashes or floaters in the eyes.

Through PEARS around 50,000 acute eye care appointments are delivered annually, with up to 80% of patients managed entirely within community practice.

Richard McNeight, Optometrist at Brogans added: “It was a pleasure to welcome the Minister to our practice and demonstrate the range of care community optometrists now provide. Patients increasingly expect more treatment to be delivered closer to home, and community optometry is well placed to support that ambition.”