Written question asked by Lord Lansley (Conservative) on Thursday, 10 March 2005, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 23 March 2005. It was answered by Baroness Winterton of Doncaster (Labour) on Wednesday, 23 March 2005 on behalf of the Department of Health.

Dept of Health

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans he has to bring dispensing opticians within the scope of NHS regulation; if he will change General Ophthalmic Services regulations to allow optometrists and ophthalmic opticians to refer patients directly to hospital eye services; what plans he has to amend section 24 of the Opticians Act 1989 to allow professionals other than ophthalmic opticians, optometrists and registered medical practitioners to conduct sight tests; for what reasons dispensing opticians are not paid for the general ophthalmic services they supply; and if he will make a statement on the progress of his review of the General Ophthalmic Service.

Answer: Mr. Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to bring dispensing opticians within the scope of NHS regulation; if he will change General Ophthalmic Services regulations to allow optometrists and ophthalmic opticians to refer patients directly to hospital eye services; what plans he has to amend section 24 of the Opticians Act 1989 to allow professionals other than ophthalmic opticians, optometrists and registered medical practitioners to conduct sight tests; for what reasons dispensing opticians are not paid for the general ophthalmic services they supply; and if he will make a statement on the progress of his review of the General Ophthalmic Service. [221960] Ms Rosie Winterton: Dispensing opticians do not provide general ophthalmic services (GOS) and are therefore not paid by the national health service. We are planning to review the GOS arrangements shortly. This will include considering the relationship of dispensing opticians with the NHS, but we have no plans to amend section 24 of the Opticians Act 1989 to allow professionals other than ophthalmic opticians and registered medical practitioners to conduct sight tests. The national health service (General Ophthalmic Services Supplementary List) and (General Ophthalmic Services Amendment and Consequential Amendment) Regulations 2005, which come into force on 1 April 2005, amend regulations to allow optometrists to refer patients directly to ophthalmic hospitals.

Secondary information