§ Commander Purseyasked the Minister of Health, in view of the fact that a firm of National Health Service opticians in Kingston-upon-Thames, details of which have been sent to him by the hon. Member for Hull, East, has refused to 56W dispense a prescription for spectacle lenses from an ophthalmologist, and that the firm only dispenses prescriptions prescribed by itself or its employees, what action he will take to ensure a full ophthalmic service from this firm.
§ Miss PittMy right hon. and learned Friend does not propose to take any action. Opticians practising in the service are free to accept or to refuse to accept any application to dispense an approved prescription.
§ Commander Purseyasked the Minister of Health, in view of the fact that a National Health Service optician in Stoke Newington, details of which have been sent to him by the hon. Member for Hull, East, who visited an invalid patient at home, stated that the spectacles she required would have to come from the United States of America, would take three months to arrive, and would cost £12, what action he will take to ensure that this optician offers home-bound patients the range of National Health Service spectacles, and alternative colours, available for £1 10s. 3d.
§ Miss PittAn optician is not required to visit patients in their homes but if he does so to provide supplementary ophthalmic services the normal terms of service would be applicable. The supply of glasses privately is outside my right hon. and learned Friend's jurisdiction.
§ Commander Purseyasked the Minister of Health the number of National Health Service prescription forms O.S.C.2 approved in Hull, in 1959, for sight-tests for spectacles, for which no spectacles were dispensed; whether he will inquire into the reasons; and how many of these forms were submitted after the supply of new private spectacles, when no new National Health Service spectacles were required by the patient.
§ Miss PittAbout 4,000 of the prescription forms O.S.C.2 approved in Hull in 1959 have not resulted in glasses being dispensed under the service. This is in line with experience in other parts of the country and my right hon. and learned Friend sees no occasion to inquire specially into the reasons. I regret that the information asked for in the last part of the Question is not available.