4. Statement by the Minister for Health and Social Services: Future approach to optometry services

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 3:57 pm on 21 September 2021.

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Photo of Baroness Mair Eluned Morgan Baroness Mair Eluned Morgan Labour 3:57, 21 September 2021

Diolch yn fawr, Jenny. I'm glad you agree with our move to primary care, and you're absolutely right, this is all about 'A Healthier Wales', it's delivering on what we set out, and it's about the transformation of our services.

What we're doing now in terms of those optometrists who have those higher qualifications that we're encouraging constantly to work at the top of their licence, is that we're working now with the national ophthalmic planned care board to scope the requirements in terms of not just the estate that's needed, but also the equipment and the staff. So, if we are to meet the demands that I set out earlier, what does that look like, what will we need to put in place? So, that £4.8 million that you talked about for the national eye care electronic patient record, that's money that's already gone in. We now have to calculate how much more we need to put in in order to make sure that everybody who goes through this process is able to access. So, that is now being worked up by the partnership that has been put together, so that we can deliver on exactly what you're talking about.

And I agree with you: I gave the example of Cuba; you gave an example that you're familiar with, and I very much agree with you. We've got to make sure we don't dehumanise people when we're doing this, but I do think that there is scope, when we're in the kind of situation that we're in at the moment, where, frankly, people need a quality of life that they are losing every day, I think you're right; I think there is a case to be made for asking people to go to specialist centres—this is not for routine, but it's for specialist centres for cataract operations—and that's what we're working up at the moment. So, I do hope to be able to bring you some further news on that in the next few months.