24 April 2008
Rhoda Grant, Highlands and Islands regional Labour MSP, has welcomed NHS Highland’s moves to improve Orthoptic Services for school children.
Mrs Grant said: “I took this issue up with NHS Highland after concerns raised by a constituent.
Early identification of problems mean issues can be easily rectified.”
“Visual tests are currently carried out in the NHS Highland by school nurses, not optometrists.
“This is a worrying trend, given the number of children who have presented at Raigmore Hospital with sight problems that could have been identified at the primary one stage.”
Mrs Grant added: “It is welcome news that NHS Highland are now taking steps to bring in orthoptic Supervision by school nurses to undertake preschool vision screenings as an interim measure.
“The health board have told me they hope to have this service running within the next three months with school nurses being trained to undertake vision screening in nursery settings at the start of the autumn term of 2009.
“This is a great development, but I would urge NHS Highland to move quickly to ensure that cases like the Wilsons do not repeat themselves.”
