§ 33. Mr. Prittasked the Minister of Health whether he will secure without further delay the supply of a spectacle lens to Mrs. Olive Owen, of 24 Jeddo Road, W.12, seeing that she has been waiting for the lens since the 28th December, 1948, and has been in a state of semi-blindness for want of the lens during most of that time, with crave injury to her general health.
§ Mr. BevanI would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for East Islington (Mr. E. Fletcher) on 19th May.
§ Mr. PrittMay I ask the Minister to bear in mind that to stick slavishly to the idea of having no priorities will mean that he will drive people blind and he will drive them mad?
§ Mr. BevanThe inference is entirely unjust, is not based upon the facts and is merely splenetic. There is, in fact, a system of voluntary priorities which is being worked by the opticians at the moment. What I have said is this: if I 2297 am to unload on them too many priority classes the whole scheme would be encumbered.
§ Mr. PrittWould the right hon. Gentleman tell me how this lady can get within a scheme of priorities with an optician when the hospital refuses to give her the address of the optician?
§ Mr. PrittThe lady has been admirably treated under the right hon. Gentleman's scheme and has had the sight of one eye restored by the admirable service of the hospital. The hospital have done the best possible job and say she ought to have priority, but they say they cannot and must not give the address of the optician.