VISION 2020 UK Public Affairs Committee Meeting

Attachment 2

VISION 2020 UK Public Affairs Committee Meeting

Notes for the VISION 2020 UK Public Affairs Committee meeting held on 26/08/16, 13:30 – 15:30 at Fight for Sight, 18 Mansell Street, London, E1 8AA

Joint Chairs:

MJ Mercy Jeyasingham VISION 2020 UK

JG Jenny Gowen Optical Confederation

Attendees:

CB Carol Bewick Fight for Sight

DB Donna O'Brien SeeAbility

JW James White Guide Dogs

LP Liz Price Royal College of Ophthalmologists

NR Niall Ryan VISION 2020 UK

Apologies:

Beth Barnes Royal College of Ophthalmologists

Chrissie Pepper UK Vision Strategy

Helen Dearman RNIB

John Thompson England Vision Strategy

Kathy Evans Royal College of Ophthalmologists

Lara King Blind Veterans UK

Louise Robertshaw Guide Dogs

Olivier Deneve College of Optometrists

Phil Ambler Thomas Pocklington Trust

Ross Mathewman Sense

Sarah Bailey UK Vision Strategy

1.  Welcome, introductions and apologies

·  All attendees were welcomed to the meeting and introductions were given.

·  Apologies were read out.

2.  Notes of the previous meeting and progress on Action Log

·  The minutes were approved.

·  All actions from the Action Log from the last meeting were complete.

·  The CEO of Deafblind UK is to join the Committee.

3.  Terms of Reference and Conflict of Interest policy

·  The remit and objectives of the Committee need to be updated to feed into the overall strategy of VISION 2020 UK.

·  Discussions also added the need for Public Affairs to be a working point on the other Committees of VISION 2020 UK, with work programmes shared.

·  It was agreed that the Conflict of Interest form is to be updated to a more appropriate Declaration of Interest form.

Actions:

3.1  MJ to amend the Terms of Reference and circulate.

3.2  MJ to update Conflict of Interest form and circulate.

4.  MP Newsletter/Constituency Briefing

·  It was agreed the Annual Constituency Briefing for MPs would consist of 8-10 sections. Sections should include constituency data, where possible, and failing that national data. If no data is available an update on the topic area for MPs will be used.

·  Suggested topic areas and organisations nominated to be shared with the group.

·  It was highlighted that the UK Vision Strategy Country Groups could be useful where only data for England exists.

·  The events calendar will incorporate parliamentary events, awareness weeks, lobbying events and report launches. The group was asked to supply information for the January edition.

Suggested sections for Annual Constituency Briefing:

-  Sight Loss Services (RNIB)

-  Ophthalmology - Hospital Eye Services (RCOphth)

-  Community Optometry (Optical Confederation)

-  Rehabilitation (RNIB)

-  Transport (VISION 2020 UK)

-  Children and Young People (Blind Children UK)

-  Research (Fight for Sight)

-  Dementia and Sight Loss (VISION 2020 UK)

-  Public Health (VISION 2020 UK)

-  Learning Disability (SeeAbility)

Actions:

4.1  300 words on specific topics by Friday October 14th (nominated individuals/organisations).

4.2  Group to supply information for first quarter 2017 for the events calendar (all).

5.  General election manifesto

·  There was some discussion on the time frame required to produce and the need to galvanize the sector prior to the next election.

·  JW raised the importance of key messages, getting candidates to sign-up to pledges, citing Cancer Research and Mencap campaigns as success stories.

·  JG wanted to ensure if produced a manifesto would include ‘big asks’ (e.g. Write to your CCG etc.) and be produced early even before the election to allow candidates time to take the actions.

·  Interest from wider members to be discussed at the next meeting.

6.  Joint briefings

·  JG mentioned 2 possible opportunities coming up in Parliament where it might be possible for the group to prepare a joint briefing or where group members might be able to share briefings.

·  The first was the Opticians Act 1989 (amendment) Bill which looks at the issue of adjustable glasses. The Optical Confederation is currently working on a briefing about this with the College of Optometrists and RNIB and JG offered to share this with the group once finalised in case other group members wanted to sign up to it.

·  The second is a debate that may be introduced by the APPG chair on prevention of sight loss. JG suggested – if there is enough notice – this could be a good debate for the group to do a joint briefing on.

7.  Plans when parliament returns

·  Guide Dogs to have stands at the 3 major conferences (Labour, Cons, Scottish National).

·  JW mentioned Guide Dogs are to promote a bill around access (taxis and private hire cars).

·  LP mentioned the RCOphth are to have a parliamentary reception in November, and any help from the group would be greatly appreciated.

·  DB mentioned SeeAbility have an early day motion around special needs schools sight testing and are hoping for a question to be raised in parliament.

·  CB mentioned Fight for Sight would have a round table on research at the Labour party conference.

·  JG mentioned that the Optical Confederation will be hosting fringe events at the Labour and Conservative party conferences partnering with the Local Government Association, NHS Confederation and Health Foundation. These will cover the topic Hospitals under Pressure – the community solution?

8.  VISION 2020 UK Committees

·  It was agreed JG would attend the Chairs of Committees meeting in January and MJ will ensure Public Affairs appears on the agenda of the other Standing Committees.

Actions:

8.1  MJ to add Public Affairs to the agenda of other Standing Committees of VISION 2020 UK.

9.  NEHW/World Sight Day

·  No major plans mentioned specifically for National Eye Health Week. The Eyecare Trust and National Eye Health Week are currently busy joining forces. In the future the charity will be known as Eye Health UK.

·  VISION 2020 UK will launch ‘Starting Point’ on World Sight Day (October 13). Starting Point is a guide to be given to parents and carers whose child has vision impairment at the point of diagnosis.

10.  AOB

·  JG asked for the full list of members and email addresses to be distributed to allow for easy communication between meetings.

Actions:

10.1  NR to distribute list of names and email addresses of committee members.

Date of next meeting:

·  To be confirmed. Doodle poll to be sent for meeting in late October.

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VISION 2020 UK PO Box 70172, London WC1A 9HH