Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what progress he has made on a national eye health strategy; and what assessment he has made of the effect of medical research on finding solutions to the capacity issues that NHS ophthalmology services face.

There are no plans to develop a national eye health strategy. Given the size of England, and the diversity of the health needs of different communities, we believe commissioning needs to be owned and managed locally.

However, no specific assessment has been made of the effects of medical research on finding solutions to the capacity issues faced by National Health Service ophthalmology services. We welcome medical research and the contribution it makes to the development of better treatments, improved diagnostics, prevention, care and quality of life for everyone.

NHS England and NHS Improvement’s outpatient transformation programme is working with key stakeholders to help local systems redesign and improve outpatient services across primary and secondary care, including ophthalmology, so that trusts are better able to meet future demand.