A commitment to equitable eye care access has seen a Coatbridge independent optometry practice provide a domiciliary service to the surrounding community.
Tuite Opticians Coatbridge principal optometrist, Stephen Kirley, spoke to OT for The Older people edition, which focused on exploring the role of optometry in supporting the ageing population.
“We have an ethos within the practice that everybody has a fundamental right to sight. As a consequence of that, we offer a domiciliary eye care service,” Kirley shared.
He highlighted that when longstanding customers are no longer able to travel to the practice, it should not be a barrier to receiving eye care.
“We should be able to take the practice to these individuals,” Kirley shared.
“We have portable equipment to try and service every possible eventuality. We are essentially trying to offer a like-for-like sight test,” he highlighted.
Kirley shared that domiciliary care is an area of practice where it is possible to make a genuine difference in patients’ lives.
He also appreciates the variety that can be found within domiciliary care.
“I like the fact that no two tests are the same and no two scenarios are the same. You are never going to get bored in domiciliary,” Kirley emphasised.
Kirley shared that many areas within Scotland are some distance from an optometry practice. He encouraged all practices to consider offering a home visits service.
“Domiciliary is a service that is not just essential to us as an independent, but is essential to people right across Scotland,” Kirley emphasised.
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