Staff set for larger visual health role

Scotland’s social workers could play an earlier role in assessing clients for loss of eyesight or blindness under Scottish executive proposals.

A review of eye care services found social workers and care staff often misdiagnosed or failed to spot eyesight problems in older people and people with learning difficulties.

The proposals, out to consultation until the end of July, include streamlining the referral process so that optometrists can refer patients directly to social work for assessments, rather than having to refer them for specialist eye tests first.

Mike Cairns, who worked on the executive’s review, told the conference: “You can get referred to someone in social work because it can take very long to see a hospital consultant.”