A new paper highlights the importance of domiciliary eye care services and the need to ensure that all vulnerable groups receive the eye care they require. The paper entitled ‘A Fundamental Right to Sight’ will be launched by the Eye Health Alliance on Monday 16 April 2007 at its stand at the Royal College of Nursing Congress, Harrogate.
Domiciliary eye care is an essential part of nationally negotiated General Ophthalmic Services (GOS) and under the NHS, eligible patients who cannot leave their home unaccompanied are entitled to a free sight test in their home. Consequently, domiciliary services are a life-line for many, yet countless eligible people are unaware that the service exists. The paper indicates that in Great Britain in 2006, approximately 1.4 million people were confined to their own homes, yet just under 350,000 domiciliary NHS sight tests were carried out in the year ending 31 March 2006.
Anyone who cannot attend a high street practice without help, including people with a physical or mental disability, can benefit from the domicilary eye care service.
The Eye Health Alliance is calling for all those who work with patients who are housebound or living in residential care, to work together to promote the health benefits of a sight test for these vulnerable people.
All vulnerable patients must be made aware of their right to access eye care in their own home, through educating healthcare professionals and NHS managers of the availability and benefits of this NHS service.
A spokesperson said:
“We want to ensure that vulnerable patients do not miss out on vital eye care which could make a huge impact to their quality of life, their dignity and independence and reduce accidents in the home such as falls.”
“It is estimated that 4 million people over the age of 60 do not have regular sight tests. Many of these individuals are unable to access mainstream high street services and are unaware that they are entitled to the same level of access to this service as able bodied individuals through the NHS funded domiciliary service.”
