Evidencing and addressing inequalities in access to eye care for two high risk groups: very young children and people with learning disabilities
Donaldson, L. A. (2026). Evidencing and addressing inequalities in access to eye care for two high risk groups: very young children and people with learning disabilities. (Unpublished Doctoral thesis, City St George's, University of London)
Abstract
This thesis by prior publication presents a coherent body of research undertaken over the past 25 years, addressing longstanding inequalities in access to eye care for two underserved populations: children under the age of six, and individuals of all ages with learning disabilities. Both groups are disproportionately disadvantaged in accessing eye care services; in part due to reduced ability to communicate visual symptoms and because eye care provision remains largely symptom- led.
The thesis draws together a series of publications, grouped under five thematic areas:
Identifying barriers to accessing eye care for young children.
Reducing the burden on secondary paediatric ophthalmology services.
Developing and evaluating specialist, targeted eye care pathways for individuals with learning disabilities.
Exploring models of advocacy, pathway promotion and satisfaction among people with learning disabilities and their families/carers.
Investigating cross-sector models of healthcare delivery to identify transferable insights for eye care services supporting people with learning disabilities.
Collectively, these works advance an applied research agenda aimed at generating evidence for policy change in the United Kingdom. The overarching goal has been to inform the development of inclusive, needs-led eye care services that address systemic access barriers and promote equitable outcomes for vulnerable populations.
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