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Dept of Health

Answer

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will take steps to encourage more regular and thorough eye tests for children to check for cancers, with particular reference to retinoblastoma. [131224] Ms Rosie Winterton: Doctors and opticians who test sight have a duty to undertake an examination of the eye and perform whatever tests they feel are necessary at the time. The examination undertaken has the purpose of detecting signs of injury, disease or abnormality in the eye and the doctors or opticians carrying them out will be aware of retinoblastoma and the signs to look for on the retina. Free sight tests are available under the National Health Service to large parts of the population, including all children and those aged 16-18 in full-time education. Sight tests are the ideal opportunity to review all aspects of eye health, including investigations for signs of disease. In 2001-02, 9.8 million NHS sight tests were paid for by health authorities. 2.4 million of those were for children. We have promoted a system of child health and development checks. The programme of home visiting and community development makes an important contribution to many areas of health education and fosters the early detection of problems, including those associated with eye sight in young pre-school children. The programme also provides the opportunity to develop closer relationships between the family and the primary care team. Work on developing the children's national service framework continues and the healthy child module will take into account the views expressed by the National Screening Committee (Children's Sub- Group) on the need for child eye screening.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

131224; 411 c218W;411 c87W

Session

2002-03

Subjects

Children Cancer Finance Eyesight Testing Retinoblastoma

Contains statistics

Yes

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk