Eye health is a growing concern in London.
More than half a million Londoners (608,000) are currently living with eye health problems that could affect their sight. And this number is set to rise rapidly: by 2025 another 70,000 Londoners are predicted to live with a sight-threatening eye health issue.[2]
Unidentified sight problems can affect quality of life and lead to avoidable sight loss.
The total cost of sight loss to the London economy is estimated to be around £523 million a year.[3]
The London Assembly Health Committee will tomorrow discuss eye health and preventing sight loss in London. It will explore how the Mayor could support better eye health through his Health Inequalities Strategy. The guests are:
- Parul Desai, Ophthalmologist & Consultant in Public Health, Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
- Helen Lee, Policy Manager - Advocacy Directorate, Royal National Institute for Blind People (RNIB)
- Cathy Low, London Projects Director, Thomas Pocklington Trust
- David Parkins, Optometrist & Chair, London Eye Health Network, NHS England (London)
- Keith Valentine, Chief Executive Officer, Vision UK
The meeting will take place on Tuesday, 27 June at 10:00am in Committee Room 5 at City Hall (The Queen’s Walk, London SE1).
Media and members of the public are invited to attend.
Social Media:
The meeting can also be viewed LIVE via webcast or YouTube
Follow us @LondonAssembly and take part in the meeting discussion using #AssemblyHealth and #SightLoss.
Notes to editors
- Full agenda papers.
- RNIB, Sight Loss Data Tool.
- Ibid.
- Dr Onkar Sahota AM, Chair of the Health Committee is available for interview. See contact details below.
- London Assembly Health Committee.
- As well as investigating issues that matter to Londoners, the London Assembly acts as a check and a balance on the Mayor.
For media enquiries, please contact Mary Dolan on 020 7983 4603. For out of hours media enquiries, call 020 7983 4000 and ask for the London Assembly duty press officer. Non-media enquiries should be directed to the Public Liaison Unit on 020 7983 4100.