Media Release: Tartan Silk PR secure Optometry Scotland

EDINBURGH-based Tartan Silk Public Relations has successfully secured an exciting new account with the recent appointment of Optometry Scotland.

Martin Hunt, managing director of Tartan Silk, said: “In recent years, we have been developing a specialism for health and child care; now with the addition of Optometry Scotland to our portfolio, we see these areas of expertise as being complimentary to each other.”

Tartan Silk has been enlisted to promote and support the non-profit making organisation which works on behalf of the entire optometry sector.

In 2006, Optometry Scotland was responsible for negotiating a £1 million training contract and has heralded new levels of professional eyecare which are becoming the envy of the world and other professional health bodies.

Gillian Syme, chair of Optometry Scotland, said: “Negotiating the new GOS (General Ophthalmic Services) contract, in April 2006, changed the care of the Scottish population’s eyes and as a result it is revered across the world in places as far away as New Zealand and Canada.

“The Scottish population should take great pride in this and be rest assured that we will continue to work on behalf of the Scottish population to ensure our eyecare is second to none.”

ENDS

Notes to Editor

Mission Statement & Objectives

Our aim is ‘to develop, maintain and promote a world class eye health and primary eyecare service for the people of Scotland’.

We will achieve this aim by:

  • Striving for the highest possible standards of professional competence and care within the optometric professions.
  • Securing funding to enable Optometrists, Dispensing Opticians and their staff to provide high quality equitable services across Scotland and thereby:
    1. equipping practices to the highest practical standards and
    2. enabling and encouraging ongoing training and personal development for Optometrists, Dispensing Opticians and their staff.
  • Working towards the elimination of avoidable blindness through the early detection and appropriate management of eye disease, thereby complying with the VISION 2020 directive.
  • Working with other relevant stakeholders, organisations, and the media, to raise awareness of the importance of regular eye examinations and extended specialist services provided within optometry practices.

History

Through extensive negotiations, meetings, lobbying and sheer will and determination, our previous chairs, Frank Munro, Hal Rollason and Donald Cameron, led the newly-formed Optometry Scotland to the introduction of the new GOS eye examination in April 2006.

The introduction of the new structure of fees and standards, heralded new levels of professional eyecare which are becoming the envy of the world and other professional health bodies who have learned from our experience and are now lobbying for funds. Our thanks to these pioneers of modern Optometry in Scotland.

Function

Optometry Scotland is now the first point of contact for all health officials and external bodies in Scotland and represents all other optical bodies in the Scottish region. We are the voice of the optical professions in Scotland and our objective is to preserve the integrity of the GOS contract. We will do this by lobbying for better support services, enhanced status for the Optometric and Dispensing professions and more funding for future fee increases.

MEDIA RELEASE posted by Tartan Silk PR. You too can post media releases (aka press releases) on allmediascotland.com. For more information, email here.

Contact: Gavin Nicholson
Phone: 0131 557 8885
Email: gavin@tartansilk.co.uk
Website: http://www.tartansilk.co.uk