Labour Candidate looks into optical issues

Jonathan Todd, Labour’s Parliamentary Candidate for Westmorland and Lonsdale, recently visited Anne Irving’s Optometrists on Stramongate, Kendal, to discuss optical and wider health issues with Ms. Irving and Mr. Simon Everett, another leading local optometrist.

 Mr. Todd said:

 “At the risk of using a horrible pun, I’d genuinely say it was a very eye opening visit. Ms. Irving and Mr. Everett are impressive people, who exude a real public service ethos. They raised a range of issues with me and made a very convincing case for the wider public health roles that optometrists can fulfil, particularly in relation to diabetes and glaucoma.

“Some changes to public policy will be needed to enable optometrists to better fulfil these roles and I will work with them to achieve these changes. These changes are particularly important in Westmorland and Lonsdale, as many health issues are best addressed within rural communities by a visit to the optometrists down the street at an early stage. The unhappy alternative is letting things fester or go undetected, making a longer journey to a hospital necessary.”