Written question asked by Mark Oaten (Liberal Democrat) on Wednesday, 10 December 1997, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 16 December 1997. It was answered by Alan Milburn (Labour) on Tuesday, 16 December 1997 on behalf of the Department of Health.

Dept of Health

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when his Department issued guidance to opticians giving clarification of general ophthalmic services procedures; to what extent the measures it contains are enforceable; what estimate he has made of the regional impact of the procedures on take up of (a) eye tests and (b) free eye tests for those on benefits; and in what areas the advice differs from previous guidance issued by his Department. - Includes ref to National Health (General Ophthalmic Services) Regulations 1986 and the National Health Services (Optical Charges and Payments) Regulations 1997.

Answer: Mr. Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when his Department issued guidance to opticians giving clarification of general ophthalmic services procedures; to what extent the measures it contains are enforceable; what estimate he has made of the regional impact of the procedures on take up of (a) eye tests and (b) free eye tests for those on benefits; and in what areas the advice differs from previous guidance issued by his Department. [20926] Mr. Milburn: The guidance, issued in November 1997, is only intended to aid understanding of the National Health (General Ophthalmic Services) Regulations 1986 and the National Health Services (Optical Charges and Payments) Regulations 1997. These Regulations set out the statutory obligations which Optometrists and Ophthalmic Medical Practitioners, who contract to provide general ophthalmic services, are required to observe. The guidance reflects advice given by the Department in response to casual enquiries over recent years and is not expected to alter the trend in the increase in the overall number of sight tests which is currently running at about 2.6 per cent. per annum.

Secondary information