Local Health Committees meet Devon MPs

Local MPs Oliver Colvile, Alison Seabeck and Ben Bradshaw joined the Devon Local Optical Committee and Devon Local Pharmaceutical Committee for a Roundtable Discussion on Tuesday 3rd December 2013 to discuss the management and treatment of minor health conditions in Community Optician Practices and Community Pharmacy.

Visual Impairment is one of the major health challenges facing the NHS, affecting a substantial proportion of the population. 2 million people in the UK are living with sight loss yet over 50% is avoidable. Fewer than 50% of the population visit their optician to have regular sight tests.

Pharmacy is the third largest health profession. Pharmacies can be found at the heart of communities and are highly accessible. It is estimated that each year 8% of A&E consultations are for minor ailments and that these cost the NHS £136 million annually. Community pharmacy is ideally placed to help patients with self-care and management of their long term conditions. Pharmacists are well trained and could help relieve this pressure for appointments away from general practice and A&E if a minor aliment service was commissioned.

Commenting on the Roundtable, Charles Bill, Chair of Devon Local Optical Committee said: "Community Optometry is at the forefront of delivering high quality, patient centred and cost effective healthcare in community settings. Regular sight tests are key to improving quality of life and reducing sight loss. It was great to see our local MPs get behind us and support opticians in Devon to provide high quality Eye Care across the county"

Commenting on the Roundtable, David Bearman, Chair of Devon Local Pharmaceutical Committee said: “It was encouraging to hear that the local MPs were all hugely supportive of the work pharmacists do in their communities, and that the MPs believe pharmacists have a role in helping the winter pressures issue though a minor ailment service”

Oliver Colvile MP said “I believe that Pharmacies and Opticians play a vital role in providing local health services in my Plymouth Sutton and Devonport constituency. I am fully behind this campaign.”

Ben Bradshaw MP added “I am concerned that the services and skills of local pharmacists and opticians are not being fully utilised following the Government’s re-organisation of the NHS. I would urge the new NHS commissioning body, Devon CCG, to make full use of these two valuable groups of professionals to improve services to local people and cut unnecessary referrals to hospital.”

Alison Seabeck MP said “We are in difficult times and so making better use of the health professionals, whether Pharmacists, Opticians, or indeed Dentists, to support people with long term conditions, to help identify health concerns and to offer treatment makes good practical sense. Regular checks assist in the prevention of illness and we should all make better use of the services available.”