31 October 2011
NHSG/124/11
A GP practice for the eyes' - Public Heath Minister opens refurbished Aberdeen optometry centre
Public Health Minister Michael Matheson will formally cut the ribbon on a refurbished optometry centre in Aberdeen tomorrow (Tuesday) - heralded as the future of eye care in Scotland.
McPherson Optometry, based at 23 King Street, has been a family run business since it was founded in 1960 by Charles McPherson, with his two sons, Stephen and Malcolm, now in charge of the practice. Following extensive refurbishment work the practice now boasts the latest technology to maintain and improve eye health. This includes high-tech equipment collectively dealing with a wide range of eye care, from ultra-thin lightweight spectacles through to complex contact lenses and treatments for eye problems. Optical coherence tomography is the latest in a generation of eye imaging equipment. In addition to providing a photograph of the back of the eye it scans the retina, penetrating over 300 microns into the retinal tissue allowing the health of the various retinal layers to be assessed. This detailed scan increases the information available to the optometrist allowing earlier detection of eye problems.
Stephen McPherson said "We're obviously delighted that Michael Matheson has agreed to formally open our refurbished premises. Scotland leads the rest of the UK when it comes to eye care and it's safe to say that Grampian is showing the lead in Scotland. We've been supporters of the NHS Grampian Eye Health Network since its launch in 2007; indeed I am the optometric advisor for the network."
Public Health Minister Michael Matheson said "The Scottish Government is committed to developing eyecare services in the community and this facility is an excellent example of this. It is clear that a great deal of thought has gone into the design and layout of this new building to ensure that it is as patient-friendly as possible, while also offering a pleasant, modern environment for staff.
"I also welcome the key role which Stephen McPherson is playing in the Eyecare Integration Implementation project. This will provide an innovative link between optometrists and hospital ophthalmology departments, allowing fast and efficient electronic patient referrals, including digital images.
"It will speed up the process for patients who need to be seen quickly, allow patients to be treated in the right setting, remove the need for referral to and from GPs and relieve pressure on hospital eye care services."
Malcolm McPherson said "We aim to provide more than just a choice of glasses and contact lenses. We see ourselves as a GP practice for the eyes, able to offer a wide range of care and testing services. We run glaucoma clinics within the practice twice weekly, and undertaking all the medical contact lens related workload for NHS Grampian. We are committed to the principle that co-working with our colleagues produces a far better service for the patients who require this care."