Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to improve access to eyecare services across England.

Integrated care boards (ICBs) are responsible for commissioning primary and secondary eye care services to meet local needs, including considering how any identified inequalities in access to services should be addressed.

As set out in our 10-Year Health Plan, we are committed to shifting more care from hospitals into the community to improve patient outcomes. Many ICBs are already commissioning enhanced eye care services from high street optical practices. This sits alongside the National Health Service’s sight testing service which is widely available across the country.

The Getting It Right First Time glaucoma best practice guidance, published in May 2026, will support more glaucoma patients receiving their follow up care on time. Our plans to invest £20 million to support digital referrals and access to the national care record service and develop single points of access between primary and secondary care will also support quicker access for patients to appropriate care.