Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to tackle eye conditions and sight loss associated with homelessness.

The Government takes the concerns around avoidable sight loss very seriously. Prevention, early detection and access to timely treatment are key to preventing avoidable sight loss. NHS England has issued guidance making clear that lack of identification or proof of address is not grounds for refusing National Health Service primary care treatment, including eye care services. NHS England’s Primary Care Access Cards will be launching this spring. These will provide simple and clear information on how homeless patients and other vulnerable groups can access services and their entitlements.

The Government set out its plans to eliminate rough sleeping by the end of this Parliament in its Rough Sleeping Strategy published in August 2018 at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-rough-sleeping-strategy

The Department is working to deliver the health and social care commitments in the Strategy, with a focus on mental health and substance misuse services, as well as physical health services.