Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make an assessment of the adequacy of access to (a) adult hearing loss services and (b) sight loss services in Bradford South constituency.

The Department does not currently have any plans to make such an assessment. Commissioning of hearing and sight loss services takes place at a local level based on the needs of the local population, and we expect commissioners to follow relevant National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidelines. Regarding sight loss services, the development of integrated care systems and the National Ophthalmic Eye Care Recovery and Transformation Programme represents an opportunity to join up social and clinical care and ensure that there is an integrated approach to covering all aspects of eye care including access to sight loss services.

For hearing loss, the Action Plan on Hearing Loss (2015) sets out key objectives on hearing loss, including prevention, early diagnosis, maximising independence and enabling people to take part in everyday activities. ‘Commissioning Services for People with Hearing Loss: A Framework for Clinical Commissioning Groups’ was published in July 2016. This framework supports the newly established integrated care boards in England to make informed decisions on maximising value for local populations and provide consistent, high quality, integrated care. It also addresses inequalities in access and outcomes between hearing services.

Where sight or hearing loss leads to a social care need, local authorities are responsible for assessing an individual’s eligibility for care and support.