Eye Examinations: Charges (Hansard, 2 May 1991)

§ Baroness Hooper
My Lords, on 6th June 1990 the Government published the report of an independent market research company —NOP —on a survey of adults who had had sight tests during the first quarter of 1990. The results indicated that, in the first year after the restrictions on entitlement to National Health Service sight tests, there was an initial drop in the number of tests but that demand was returning to normal. We have no plans to publish another report at present.

§ Lord Ennals
My Lords, does the Minister accept the report published by the Association of Optometrists which was only recently published in April? Further, now that two years have passed since the ending of free National Health Service sight tests, against the express wish of this House, is it not quite clear that a very serious mistake was made by Parliament at that time? Is it not also clear from recent evidence that there has been a fall of roughly one-fifth in the number of eye tests, especially affecting elderly patients, with the consequence that serious eye conditions, such as glaucoma, diabetes, hypertension and even brain tumours, are going undiagnosed? Does the noble Baroness accept that report and does she not think that it is a very serious challenge to the decision taken by the Government?

§ Baroness Hooper
My Lords, in the survey of the Association of Optometrists published in April the year 1988 was used as a baseline. In fact, that gives a distorted picture as sight tests were then at an all-time high prior to the highly publicised changes in eligibility in April 1989. However, it is encouraging to note that even those figures show that the number of sight tests is returning to normal, with those for the third quarter of this year up by 10 per cent. and those for the fourth quarter up by 16 per cent. There is certainly no evidence to suggest that eye disease is not being detected.

§ Baroness Oppenheim-Barnes
My Lords, is my noble friend aware that if she had consulted the opticians who actually carry out the eye tests and sell spectacles in the high streets rather than their association, she would have found that despite all the scaremongering, neither eye tests nor spectacle sales have fallen dramatically? Indeed, in some areas they have even increased.

§ Baroness Hooper
My Lords, my noble friend emphasises the difficulty in comparing one type of survey with another. We are not comparing like with like.

The Viscount of Falkland
My Lords, following on the point made by the noble Lord, Lord Ennals, that an increasing number of elderly people are not having 857 tests, does the Minister agree that it must follow that there are increasing numbers of drivers on the roads who are a hazard both to themselves and to other drivers? Has that aspect been taken into account by the Government?

§ Baroness Hooper
My Lords, pensioners and elderly people on low incomes, or those people who have special medical needs, receive free sight tests in any event. We believe that it is reasonable to expect other pensioners who can afford to do so to pay the very modest sum involved. In fact, some 30 per cent. to 40 per cent. of people are still able to have free sight tests. Therefore, I believe that we should not succumb to scaremongering.

§ Baroness Hollis of Heigham
My Lords, as someone who has just had eye surgery —the need for which was uncovered by a routine eye examination —can the Minister tell me whether the charges are consistent with the Prime Minister's recent pledge that the NHS will remain free at the point of use?

§ Baroness Hooper
My Lords, the important consideration is that people who are really in need should have the opportunity to have totally free services. I believe that the variation in charges is not very great. Individual opticians set those charges and of course they vary. I repeat, only those people who can afford to pay are asked to pay any charges. Typically, those charges are something like £10 to £15 for an eye test, which is expected to take place every couple of years. I am sure that the noble Baroness found no difficulty in providing the payment for that eye test.

§ Lord McColl of Dulwich
My Lords, will my noble friend agree that the noble Lord, Lord Ennals, is not really quite so opposed to the privatisation of parts of the NHS as would appear to be the case? Further, would it be in order for the House to congratulate him on his appointment as a consultant to an old people's home which is run by a private company?

§ Baroness Hooper
My Lords, I am very happy to congratulate the noble Lord, Lord Ennals, on this sign of his further involvement in all aspects of health treatment.

§ Lord Stoddart of Swindon
My Lords, is the noble Baroness aware that over the weekend her right honourable friend the Prime Minister held a meeting at Chequers, and perhaps a seminar, about health? Further, does she know whether preventive medicine was discussed at that seminar? In that connection, would it not have been a good idea for the Government to have restored free eye tests?

§ Baroness Hooper
My Lords, not only am I aware of the seminar, I actually attended it. Considerable interest was certainly shown by everyone around that table —that is, politicians and medical experts—in the importance of preventive methods to be taken. In that context, we still aim to have all health treatment available absolutely free for all those who cannot afford it.

§ Baroness Gardner of Parkes
My Lords, can my noble friend assure the House that in view of the high proportion of people who are entitled to free treatment —she mentioned figures of 40 per cent. to 60 per cent. —wide publicity will be given to that fact? I believe that many people are not aware that they qualify for free treatment. Can she further assure us that the Government are doing something about simplifying the form for assistance to help those who do not wish to claim benefits in general —including, for example, assistance with prison visits; a matter that I have previously raised —but simply wish to have help with their eye tests?

§ Baroness Hooper
My Lords, some 35 per cent. to 40 per cent. of the population is still entitled to free sight tests. That includes all children and people on low incomes as well as those most at risk of developing a serious eye disease. The Government have promoted the availability of those free eye tests to bring them to the attention of those people who are in need. We bear in mind the importance of having simple forms.

§ Lord Ennals
My Lords, will the Minister consult the Association of Optometrists about its survey, to which she referred in a way that misrepresents the conclusions of that study? Will she also consult Age Concern, the Royal National Institute for the Blind, the Consumers' Association and other organisations concerned with the welfare of elderly people, because were she to do so she would find that they stand solidly behind the Labour Party commitment that when it comes to power it will return to free sight tests, especially for elderly people?

§ Baroness Hooper
My Lords, not only have I already consulted all the organisations referred to by the noble Lord, but I shall continue to do so.

Noble Lords
Next Question!

§ Lord Molloy
My Lords, we are talking about a vital subject —people's eyesight. That might not appear important to noble Lords opposite, but it is important to most people. Will the Minister carry out the promise she has given to ensure that people who may not be able to afford an eye test know that they can have one? It is an important point, and I am glad that she made it. Does she further agree that those who are interested in people's eyesight and wish to ask questions about it should not be labelled as scaremongers?

§ Baroness Hooper
My Lords, yes.