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Renewal of free eye tests in Scotland welcomed by Rona Mackay MSP

RESIDENTS of Strathkelvin and Bearsden are to continue benefiting from free eye tests.

Rona Mackay MSP has supported the move by the Scottish Government which said it has saved constituents money, improved health and helped detect more serious illnesses.

Health secretary Shona Robison also announced a review to consider the role that community eye services play within the wider NHS and whether more can be done to improve the level of care for patients.

It comes a decade on from the successful introduction of free NHS eye examinations, which has seen a 29 per cent increase in the number of tests carried out since 2006.

Over two million eye examinations a year are now carried out in Scotland, providing both a sight test and an eye health check that can identify treatable conditions at an early stage in their development.

Rona Mackay said: “It is vital we continue this good work to ensure people in Strathkelvin and Bearsden and indeed across the whole of Scotland have the best access to eye-care as they possibly can.

“The free service allows this easy access and helps improve public health and often discovers more serious illnesses long before they otherwise would have.

“I’m very thankful to the Scottish Government for this continuation and also to our hard working opticians and their staff who deliver this service on the ground.”

The review is set to report to Scottish ministers by the end of the year.

ENDS

Notes to Editors

In 2006/7 the number of eye examinations carried out was approximately 1.51 million. In 2014/15 this had risen to 2.04 million.

Anyone who wishes to share their view on current community eye-care services in Scotland can do so by contacting the Review team by email at the following address: nhseyecarereview@gov.scot

More information is available on the Scottish Government website: http://www.gov.scot/Topics/Health/Services/EyeCare

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