Centre for Public Scrutiny

The Centre for Public Scrutiny promotes the value of scrutiny in modern and effective government, not only to hold executives to account but also to create a constructive dialogue between the public and its elected representatives to improve the quality of public services. The Centre received funding from the Department of Health to run a three-year support programme for  Overview and Scrutiny Committees (OSC) of social services authorities, as they develop their abilities to promote the well-being of local communities, through effective scrutiny of healthcare planning and the delivery of wider public health issues. Overview and Scrutiny Committees (OSC) are the main co-coordinating scrutiny bodies for local authorities. OSCs can examine and monitor the performance of services provided by the council and other agencies and review the council's budget and policies.

The Centre for Public Scrutiny, in liaison with LOCSU and the national, representative bodies, has developed a '10 Questions' guide to help OSCs to assess whether the level of eye health services provided by PCTs and the NHS meets local needs. Key areas covered by the guide include glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, cataracts and low vision services. Please click here to read more information about the guide or for a copy of the guide, click on the pdf version to the right of your screen.

The guide will be an important tool for OSCs in assessing local eye health provision and will assist them in determining that the right services are being provided locally. It will also help to indicate where improvements can be made.

In addition to highlighting eye health needs and where improvements can be made, the guide demonstrates the importance of having adequate eye care services available within the community and the relevance of the optical and optometric professions when it comes to delivering such services.