Eastleigh MP Mims Davies attended the parliamentary reception of the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Eye Health and Visual Impairment this week and met with The Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB).
The event looked to emphasize the importance of assessing Eye Care requirements in local plans, to ensure there is satisfactory provision to meet demand.
Mims said:
‘Every six minutes someone in the UK begins to lose their sight – having watched my own dad suffer with deteriorating sight, I fully appreciate how difficult this can be for those affected and their loved ones.
‘This is very important to my constituents, and a Sandy Lane resident got in touch to invite me to this very important event. It was a pleasure to attend both to represent her and my own family experiences.
‘We must make eye health a priority to ensure that Eastleigh locals’ have all their requirements properly assessed and treated. Our Local Plan must meet Eastleigh resident’s needs by ensuring we have the capacity to offer care and support to those with sight problems.
‘My thanks goes to this APPG and to the RNIB for all that they do to support our community. I have been working with the APPG since my election, alongside the MP for Wealden Nus Ghani MP, and will continue to support its aims through my endeavours in Parliament.’
Eleanor Southwood, RNIB Chair, said:
'Nobody should lose sight from a treatable condition simply because their eye clinic is too busy to provide care in a clinically appropriate timescale.
'Implementing the recommendations in this report will help to meet the increasing demands for eye care services, deliver strategic and joined up eye care, and reduce the numbers of patients losing their because of delays.'