I was grateful for the opportunity to sum up on behalf of the SNP for the Westminster Hall debate this morning on Eye Health and Macular Disease.
This is a hugely important issue that affects thousands across Scotland and the rest of the UK and impacts on many of my own constituents.
I would like to thank the team at Tuite Opticians in Coatbridge for their support in my learning more about the impacts of this issue on community optometrists and the wider healthcare system. Many thanks to optometrist Stephen Kirley for explaining in detail the impact of macular degeneration, not only on individuals, but on the healthcare system as a whole.
Family run opticians like Tuite are vital in maintaining healthy outcomes within our communities and I thank them for their continued service in my constituency since 1973.
I would urge everyone to take the free eye test the Scottish Government entitles adults to every two years, and every year for those under the age of 16 or over the age of 60.
I will continue to push the UK Government to follow in the footsteps of the Scottish Government in Edinburgh and make eye tests a free and accessible health care service to all.