HC Deb 26 October 1993 vol 230 cc679-80
4. Mr. Gordon Prentice

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the Government's policy on charging for contact lenses prescribed and supplied by national health service hospital eye clinics.

The Minister for Health (Dr. Brian Mawhinney)

Contact lenses may be prescribed through the hospital eye service if the patient has clinical need for them. A charge is made, although there are a number of categories of patient who are exempt.

Mr. Prentice

Will the Minister give the House an assurance that my 70-year-old pensioner constituent, Dorothy Shanley, and 20 or 30 other people like her in my area will not have to pay £300 a year for the contact lenses that they need? Is it not a fact that the regulations are about as clear as mud and that hundreds of anomalies need to be ironed out if my pensioner constituents are not to face such disgraceful treatment?

Dr. Mawhinney

I am aware that the hon. Gentleman's constituent had a problem with the Burnley trust. I know that my hon. Friend the Member for Battersea (Mr. Bowis), the Under-Secretary of State, wrote about that case to the hon. Gentleman on 29 July. I am happy to repeat what was said in the letter, which is that I regret the fact that there was a misinterpretation of the guidelines at Burnley which caused a degree of distress to the hon. Gentleman's constituent. The guidelines are not "clear as mud" but are perfectly clear and are operating in the rest of the country. There was a misinterpretation in Burnley which has been resolved. As my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary said in his letter, Mrs. Shanley's case can now be carried forward under the proper guidelines and in line with the advice of her consultant.

Mr. Matthew Banks

My hon. Friend is aware that the number of eye tests carried out is broadly similar to that before charges were imposed. Will my hon. Friend give the House an assurance that he will continue to ensure that we provide the most help in respect of charges where the need is greatest?

Dr. Mawhinney

My hon. Friend makes a good point in both regards. As he said, the number of sight tests has come back to the original level. We are concerned to ensure that needs are met and, as my hon. Friend will know, a significant number of people are entitled to help as a consequence of those need and exemption arrangements.

Mr. Blunkett

In the light of the discussions between BUPA and GP fund holders about the sale of private insurance through GP practices and the words of the Chief Secretary—I use his words—that charges will be needed to offer comfort and choice to people in hospitals as part of cutting back on NHS spending, will the Minister give an assurance to the House that all existing free prescription charges will remain, including for categories such as pregnant women and nursing mothers, and that no new charges will be introduced in the NHS for all of us who pay our taxes for a free and equal service?

Dr. Mawhinney

I would not want any element of discord to arise between the hon. Gentleman and myself, but his question went considerably wider than the one that we were discussing.

Mr. Blunkett

Answer the question.

Dr. Mawhinney

If the hon. Gentleman will give his lungs a rest, I might have a chance to do so.

I encourage the hon. Gentleman to read again the speech that my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister made at the Blackpool conference. It was an excellent speech and contained much that the hon. Gentleman ought to learn, mark and inwardly digest, including comments about this subject.