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Concerns over deteriorating eye health for care home residents in Pembrokeshire

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  • 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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A fiesta of flavours at Cocos Mexican Cuisine, Milford Haven

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A NEW restaurant, Coco’s Mexican Cuisine, has opened at Milford Waterfront, bringing a fiesta of traditional Mexican cooking to Pembrokeshire.

Featuring a variety of seafood and meat dishes, the menu includes signature dishes with traditional Mexican ingredients like Mexican cactus, with locally supplied ingredients as well. Also available for diners is a range of refreshing Mexican cocktails, with an impressive selection of tequila, rum and mezcal.

Owners Tracy and Veronica are dedicated to bringing a true taste of Mexico to Pembrokeshire. Talking about their new adventure, Tracy Cuevas said: “I am so happy to have the opportunity to give the people of Pembrokeshire a taste and experience of my home country. All of our dishes are created with fresh ingredients, and we are happy to cater for any individual dietary requirements.

Within the next few months our aim is to add new and exciting dishes to our menu and give customers a true Mexican culinary experience. As well as Mexican cuisine you can also sample our variety of tequilas and mezcal, which will soon be available with food pairings.”

Natalie Hunt, Destination Manager at Milford Waterfront added: “Coco’s Mexican Cuisine is such an exciting addition to the food offering at Milford Waterfront! Authentic Mexican is truly an experience, and Tracy and Veronica are bringing their spectacular dining to Pembrokeshire. I especially love their homemade churros. I’d recommend anyone visiting Milford Waterfront to go, you’ll have an incredible time.”

Coco’s Mexican Cuisine is also dog friendly, caters to dietary requirements, and has a children’s menu.

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A40 closed due to two vehicle collision near Camrose

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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

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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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