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Concerns over deteriorating eye health for care home residents in Pembrokeshire

Published

10 months ago

September 17, 2023

SPECSAVERS in Haverfordwest is calling for equal access to eye care for all; especially people in care homes

ALMOST a quarter of a million people living in UK care homes could unknowingly have an eye condition, which could lead to permanent sight loss if not spotted and treated in time.1,2

The research comes as this National Eye Health Week (18 – 24 September), Specsavers Haverfordwest is calling for equal access to eye care for all, especially those in care homes that can face extra challenges accessing care.

Of the 2.7 million people in the UK who would benefit from domiciliary eye care, only 460,000 eye tests were recorded between 2019 and 20203. While regular eye tests are essential for everyone, they are especially important for people living in care homes, as they are five times more likely to experience sight loss, contributing to social isolation and reduced independence.1

However, due to complex medical needs, such as dementia, reduced mobility and hearing loss, many care home residents are unable to access high street opticians, communicate their eye care needs, or easily access home visit services.

A government requirement to submit a pre-visit notification before carrying out an eye test for those who can’t leave their home unaccompanied, including those in care homes, is also being called at by Specsavers as an unnecessary administrative step which is further thwarting access to eye care.

Currently, optometrists are required to notify the NHS at least 48 hours before making a visit to one or two customers and three weeks before seeing three or more customers at the same address.

Dawn Roberts, Specsavers home visits clinical director, says: ‘Maintaining good vision is a key part of any person’s quality of life, but perhaps more so for care home residents because they often have limited mobility and so most of their hobbies and pastimes will involve visual tasks.

‘Sight loss can be very isolating and for those already struggling with memory problems or dementia, any confusion and disorientation is exacerbated by impaired vision. This can lead to a loss of engagement in social activities and sometimes increased risk of falls. Providing regular eye care can minimise or even eliminate these issues for people living in care homes allowing them to enjoy doing the things they want to do.

‘Specsavers is proud to offer home visits to anybody unable to leave their home, including residents of care homes.’

Specsavers Home Visits, which is celebrating its 10-year anniversary, carries out the same standard of eye test in people’s homes that is found in Specsavers’ stores, but with just with a few changes and specialist equipment to make them home friendly.

In the past year alone, the team of mobile opticians have dispensed more than a quarter of a million glasses to those who can’t leave their homes unaccompanied and referred more than 2,500 people in Wales for treatment to safeguard their sight. They have also visited more than 2,100 people in Wales.

Regular eye tests are not only important in identifying changes in vision and detecting the early signs of multiple eye conditions, but also because sight loss can have a significant impact on the overall safety and wellbeing of a person, particularly if they are older. The rate of falls in older people with sight loss increase by 1.7 times1, the medical cost of falls directly related to having sight loss is £128m.1

Specsavers’ provides Dementia Friends training, as part of an initiative run by the Alzheimer’s Society, to help support the needs of people living with dementia.

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A40 closed due to two vehicle collision near Camrose

Published

2 months ago

June 6, 2024

Tom Sinclair

TWO people have been rushed to hospital following a crash on the A40 on Thursday (Jun 6).

Rescuers were called to a two-vehicle crash near Camrose, Haverfordwest at around 9.10am.

The road was closed in both directions.Both drivers were taken to hospital for further treatment, but was reopened shortly after midday.

A Dyfed-Powys Police spokesperson told The Pembrokeshire Herald: “Dyfed-Powys Police responded to reports of a two-vehicle road traffic collision at the Camrose junction on the A40, just outside Haverfordwest Airport at approximately 9.10am.

“Drivers of both vehicles were taken to hospital, with one being treated for minor injuries and the other treated for more serious injuries which are not believed to be life threatening.

“The road was closed while officers attended the scene and reopened shortly after 12pm.”

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10th anniversary of the Pembroke Dock Heritage Centre

Published

4 months ago

April 9, 2024

Richard Lewis

PEMBROKE Dock Heritage Centre is celebrating its tenth anniversary. Since the museum was opened by Queen Elizabeth II in 2014, the centre has gone from strength to strength.

Today the museum is a ‘go to’ for information on the military, maritime and social history of Pembroke Dock, an archive of specialist research knowledge on the role of the Sunderland flying boats, and a beacon for Star Wars fans.

The importance of the Heritage Centre will be celebrated on Saturday April 27th with an Open Day.

The museum will be free to enter, from 11am to 3pm.

The Heritage Centre was the culmination of many heritage initiatives and over the years so many volunteers have given their time, skills, energies and enthusiasm to these – from the Gun Tower Museum to the Flying Boat Interpretation Centre, the Fleet Surgeons House and now in the magnificent Royal Dockyard Chapel.

Those at the Heritage centre look forward to welcoming everyone, especial any former volunteers and family members of those involved in past years.

See the website www.pdht.org also Facebook and X for further details.

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Fishguard Festival of Music tickets go on sale next week

Published

4 months ago

April 9, 2024

Richard Lewis

TICKETS go on sale on Monday 15 April for this year’s Fishguard Festival of Music/Gŵyl Gerdd Abergwaun concerts. 18 events will be staged at venues across Pembrokeshire from 18 to 31 July, with the popular Welsh National Opera Orchestra returning to the festival to perform at St David’s Cathedral on Friday 19 July. Conductor Tomas Hanus will lead a programme that will include Bruckner’s Sixth Symphony and the Mozart Clarinet Concerto.

Other artists performing at this year’s festival include the Marmen String Quartet, the Welsh National Opera Chamber Orchestra and violinist Jennifer Pike with pianist Jâms Coleman. Harpist Catrin Finch and violinist Aoife Ní Bhriain will team up for a concert following their acclaimed debut album Double You released last year. Pianist and Festival Patron Peter Donohoe , soprano Claire Booth, accompanied by pianist Jâms Coleman, will give recitals. The Bute Wind Quintet and the National Youth Brass Band, Choir and Orchestra of Wales will also give concerts. Welsh Chamber Folk Trio VRi will return after their sell-out concert at Theatr Gwaun two years ago. The festival will open with a concert in Newport by the Young Music Makers of Dyfed.

The full programme is available to view on the festival’s website and tickets will be on sale from 9.00am on Monday 15^th of April and can be booked via www.fishguardmusicfestival.com

Gillian Green MBE, Artistic Director of the Fishguard Festival of Music, said: “The Fishguard Festival has been a showcase for world-class music in West Wales for over fifty years and this year we will be reverting to our traditional dates in July following the temporary move of the festival dates following COVID.

“We have an excellent line-up this year and will be taking music outdoors and visiting care homes courtesy of performances by Filkins Drift, funded by Tŷ Cerdd in association with Live Music Now.”