Duty Calls

Karen joins the Signals on exercise at Swinnerton in Staffordshire. This is part of her Armed Forces course.  The Signals have a Territorial Army base in Redditch.

Have Your Eyes Tested

Karen visited Bainbridge Optometrists in the Kingfisher Centre, Redditch recently to find out why regular eye tests are so important in preventing blindness.

1.8 million people  in the UK are living with sight loss and this figure is set to increase by 115% to nearly 4 million people by 2050, largely due to the ageing population. Much of this is preventable through the early detection and treatment of eye problems. Regular eye tests are a simple and practical way to maintain good eye health and look after your eyes.

Local Optometrist Steve Bainbridge explained the health benefits of regular eye tests: “An eye test is not just to check whether you need glasses but is also a means of ensuring your eyes are healthy. An eye test can also pick up other health problems such as high blood pressure or diabetes, so they are an important health check for everyone. Many eye conditions such as glaucoma are treatable and sight loss can be prevented if they are detected early enough.”

Commenting on her visit, Karen Lumley MP said: “It was a pleasure to meet Peter Bainbridge and his son Steve and I have definitely learnt a great deal more about optometry. I will be writing to the Health Secretary and the GP Commissioning Body to ask how we can further utilise our excellent optometrists in Redditch”.

Many groups of people are entitled to free NHS sight tests. These include those aged 60 and over, all children under 16 and those on low incomes. Optical practices are convenient and offer easy access in the local community. You can visit any practice that is either near where you live or where you work. Optical practices can see NHS patients at times that suit them.

Special Awards Evening

Karen Lumley MP recently enjoyed an awards ceremony at the Town Hall to celebrate the fantastic achievements of members of the Special Olympics Redditch, which has seen its most successful year of competing in its history.

At the event it was announced that Karen has become the first Official Patron of the group and to mark the occasion the “Karen Lumley Award”, an award for the Most Improved Team, was presented for the first time. This award is unique and the only one of its kind as it is dedicated to a group of sporting stars rather than an individual, regardless of the sport they take part in.

The Special Olympics Redditch is an accredited branch of Special Olympics GB and is a fully voluntary-operated group that provides year round sports training and competition opportunities for people with learning disabilities.

Ron Daykin, Vice Chair of SOR said “It is an honour that Karen is involved with our charity and has now become our Official Patron. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed the awards evening, especially as this has been our most successful year of competing! It was pleasing to see so many people on the night supporting us including several councillors and the Mayor Anita Clayton.”

Karen Lumley MP said “It is a huge honour to be the first Patron of this incredible organisation and one that I take great pride in. I have over the past year witnessed the hard work, commitment and efforts of all involved which has produced some wonderful sporting results. I look forward to supporting this amazing group of people in any way I can in the future and wish them every success for another busy year of competing.”

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