Community

Elderly Eye Care in the UK: What’s Being Done to Bridge the Gaps?

Published

2 years ago

May 16, 2024

The prevalence of vision problems is growing in the United Kingdom, putting the elderly in a more vulnerable position. According to a report by the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB), over two million people are living with sight loss in the UK. Of that number, nearly 80% are from the older population aged 65 and above. The RNIB also predicts that the number of people experiencing sight loss will double and reach 4 million by 2050, making access to eye care all the more crucial.

Ocular problems like cataracts, macular degeneration, and glaucoma are all age-related. Thus, people experiencing vision issues may be at risk of going blind as they grow older, especially with challenges in accessing eye health care services. But what is being done to mitigate these risks? Below, we take a look at the state of elderly eye care in the UK and what’s being done to bridge the gaps.

Hindrance to elderly eye care

Backlogs in the National Health Service (NHS) waiting list continue to be a primary barrier to the ageing population’s access to eye care. Data published by NHS England shows that there were over 7 million people on waiting lists last December 2022; of that number, around 630,000 were waiting for an appointment with an ophthalmologist. Due to the capacity challenges faced by the NHS, an estimated 22 people end up with severe or permanent sight loss every month, as reported by the Association of Optometrists (AOP). The AOP also says eye problems are more common in elderly patients, making the older population more at risk for blindness. But what alternatives are being implemented to prevent this?

Bridging the gap

Accessing eye care services can be difficult for elderly people with mobility issues and other health concerns that may hamper their ability to communicate their eye care needs. This is especially true for people living in care homes who cannot go outside. As a response, Specsavers offers home visits to provide eye care services to residents who cannot leave their nursing homes. In 2022, the group of mobile opticians provided more than a quarter of a million glasses to care home residents and referred more than 2,500 people in Wales for eyesight treatment. This helps bring ocular health care closer to older people who have no means to visit an eye doctor.

The increasing popularity of e-commerce has also made eye care services more accessible. These online retail stores help minimise the need for older people to travel to brick-and-mortar stores. Glasses Direct is an online eyewear retailer that offers a diverse range of glasses frames that seniors can wear, such as the Elaine and Grayson. Through its Home Trial feature, older adults can also try up to four frames, which will be delivered directly to their homes so they can wear and select the best possible option before going back to the site and ordering their preferred frames. That way, travel time is reduced, and elderly people with mobility issues can still access eyewear options from the comfort of their homes.

Researchers in the UK have also developed an artificial intelligence (AI) program that is capable of detecting and treating eye disorders through retinal images. RETFound is an AI model that uses millions of eye scans from the NHS to pick up early signs of blindness. This can provide a huge boost in the accurate diagnosis of ocular problems that can threaten the eyesight of older adults, including glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, and other diseases that the human eye can overlook. RETFound can also reduce the workload of eye doctors in analysing retinal images, thus potentially making waiting times in hospitals or even in the NHS much faster.
Access to eye care remains a problem that threatens the eyesight of the elderly in the UK. Luckily, initiatives are in place to bridge this gap and reduce the likelihood of age-related vision loss across the country. For more articles like this, visit The Pembrokeshire Herald website.

Community

Charlie the ventriloquist doll returns to Pembroke Dock after 100 years

Published

3 hours ago

March 21, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Beloved character to greet visitors as Heritage Centre reopens for new season

CHARLIE the 100-year-old ventriloquist’s doll is coming out of retirement — and back to where it all began.

Visitors to Pembroke Dock Heritage Centre will be greeted by the much-loved character when the attraction reopens for the new season on Monday (March 30).

It marks a nostalgic return for Charlie, who once performed in the very same building — then the Royal Dockyard Chapel — alongside his original owner, Ernie James, a Pembroke Dock bus company proprietor. Over the years, the duo became a familiar and popular act on the Pembrokeshire variety circuit.

Today, Charlie is cared for by Paul Elliott, of Llanreath, who inherited the doll from his father, Fred Elliott — better known locally as magician ‘Mr E’, whose shows delighted audiences for decades.

Charlie has also recently enjoyed a brush with national attention, appearing alongside Paul at a BBC Antiques Roadshow event in Swansea.

The Heritage Centre will offer free entry on opening day, with Charlie and Paul on hand to meet visitors and share stories from a century of entertainment.

Community

First person of colour to be elected mayor of Haverfordwest

Published

12 hours ago

March 21, 2026

Bruce Sinclair - Local Democracy Reporter

A PEMBROKESHIRE town council will soon have its first-ever person of colour as mayor, and its youngest mayor in a century.

Haverfordwest Town Councillor Randell Iziah Thomas-Turner, aged 37, is to become mayor this May.

Cllr Turner said: “Tonight [March 19], I had the honour of accepting the nomination as mayor-elect — a moment that will forever stay with me.

“In doing so, I am humbled to be making history as the first mayor of colour in Haverfordwest and the youngest mayor in a century. This is not just my achievement, it belongs to every person who believes in progress, representation, and the power of community. This is a new chapter for our town — one built on unity, opportunity, and hope.

“My mayor-making will take place this May, and I cannot wait to officially step into the role and begin serving the people of Haverfordwest with pride, passion, and purpose. Haverfordwest is the best in the West — and together, we are just getting started.

“Diversity is not a challenge to overcome, but a strength to embrace. When people from different backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives come together with respect and openness, we unlock new ideas, stronger solutions, and deeper understanding.”

It’s a double celebration for the Thomas-Turner family.

Wife, and fellow town councillor, Dani, has been voted as sheriff of the town for the second-year-running, the first woman to serve as sheriff for two consecutive years.

“The coming civic year will be one to watch as my husband Councillor Randell Izaiah Thomas-Turner is becoming the first mayor of colour in Haverfordwest’s history,” said Cllr Dani Thomas-Turner, adding: “It’s going to be a year of history and memory making for sure.”

Community

Kurtz welcomes £4.3m National Lottery boost for local communities

Published

2 days ago

March 19, 2026

Tom Sinclair

SAMUEL Kurtz MS has welcomed more than £4.3 million in National Lottery funding awarded to community projects across Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire since 2021.

Figures released by The National Lottery Community Fund show that £4,318,484 has been distributed through 122 grants in the constituency since the 2021/22 financial year, the same year Mr Kurtz was elected.

The funding has supported a wide range of grassroots charities, voluntary organisations and community groups through programmes including National Lottery Awards for All, offering grants of up to £20,000, and People and Places, which provides larger awards of up to £500,000.

Projects backed locally include mental health support for young people, environmental and sustainability initiatives, community workshops, outdoor wellbeing activities, support for vulnerable adults, and programmes aimed at building skills and confidence.

Among the organisations to benefit is Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority, which received £343,584 for its Routes to Discovery project, helping improve mental and physical wellbeing through accessible outdoor activities.

St Davids Diocesan Council for Social Responsibility was awarded £398,078 to deliver its Plant Dewi: Strengthening our Communities initiative, supporting families and local groups.

Other recipients include The VC Gallery, Redberth Croft CIC, The Tenby Project CIC and Neptune’s Army of Rubbish Cleaners, with funding supporting projects ranging from food initiatives and nature-based wellbeing to volunteering and environmental action.

Mr Kurtz said: “Community groups and charities across Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire do incredible work supporting people and strengthening local communities.

“It is fantastic to see more than £4.3 million of National Lottery funding invested in projects that are improving wellbeing, tackling isolation and creating opportunities for people of all ages during my time in office.

“The voluntary sector plays a vital role in our area, and this funding is helping organisations deliver projects that bring people together and make a real difference to people’s lives.”

The National Lottery Community Fund is the largest funder of community activity in Wales, supporting initiatives that bring communities together, promote environmental sustainability, help children and young people thrive, and improve health and wellbeing.

Organisations across Wales can apply for funding through the Awards for All and People and Places programmes to support projects that matter most to their communities.

Further information is available on The National Lottery Community Fund website.