Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what representations he has received from (a) RNIB and (b) other bodies on the time taken for access to treatment for eye care; and what steps he is taking to minimise the risk for patients experiencing irreversible sight loss due to delayed and cancelled appointments.

The Department has had representations from the Royal National Institute of Blind People and received letters from the Royal College of Ophthalmologists, Clinical Council for Eye Health Commissioning, All Party Parliamentary Group for Eye Health and Visual Impairment and the Chair of the Health Select Committee.

There are currently national rules in place that should ensure if a patient’s planned follow on appointment is postponed their wait is actively monitored. In light of concerns that patients may be suffering avoidable sight loss due to delays in follow up appointments, Departmental officials are currently working with NHS England to assess the situation.