HC Deb 29 February 1960 vol 618 cc823-4
34. Mr. Russell

asked the Minister of Health if he will state the approximate number of patients who have had their eyes examined or re-examined in England and Wales under the Supplementary Ophthalmic Service of the National Health Service since its inception, and the number of complaints about the service received by his Department and the Ophthalmic Services Committee.

Miss Pitt

Up to 31st December, 1959, some 56 million sight tests had been given under the Supplementary Ophthalmic Sevices in England and Wales. Up to the same date, 439 cases had been investigated under the Service Committee procedure and the results reported to the Minister.

Mr. Russell

Does not my hon. Friend's answer show that on the whole the opticians and ophthalmologists who operate this service have done a very good job for the public and satisfied most of the patients?

Miss Pitt

I agree that complaints about this branch of the Service are fewer than about any other. At the same time, I must make the point that doctors, for example, have a 24-hour obligation to the Service.

Lord Balniel

In view of the allegations made in the House last week against certain members of this profession, will my hon. Friend conduct an inquiry into them and publish the results?

Miss Pitt

I will pass that question to my right hon. and learned Friend, but in the course of last Monday's debate, I was able to reply to some of the allegations and to show that there was not nearly so much substance in them as the hon. and gallant Member for Hull, East (Commander Pursey) suggested in the course of his speech.

Dr. Summerskill

Is the hon. Lady satisfied that a service can be judged by the number of poor and ignorant people, who do not know the authority to whom they can complain, who complain? If that was the criterion in any service, we would not move forward at all.

Miss Pitt

The test of a service is the number of people who use it, and the figures I have given show that it is very widely used, and used over and over again by people who go back for further tests. It would be wrong to be entirely satisfied with that in any service. One can always look for improvements and we are willing to do so.