HC Deb 13 July 1978 vol 953 cc727-8W
Mr. Patrick Jenkin

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what steps he is taking to extend the screening of children for visual defects at an early age.

Mr. Ennals

My Department has prepared a draft document on preventive health services for children suggesting that health authorities should ensure that a basic programme of health surveillance is offered to all children, including testing for specific conditions such as disorders of vision and hearing. Vision screening is recommended at the ages of 7 to 8 months and 2½ to 3 years, at school entry and at least in alternate years throughout school life. Consultations are taking place with interested bodies on this draft, and it is hoped that it will be issued in its final form later this year.

Mr. Patrick Jenkin

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what estimates he has made of the savings to the National Health Service attainable through the early screening of children for visual defects and the treatment of those defects, thus avoiding later expensive hospital treatment or the prolonged use of the optical service.

Mr. Ennals

No such estimates have been made. The objective of the early detection of visual defects is essentially to ensure that children can be offered any necessary further investigations and treatment and advice in order to prevent or minimise the effect of visual disorder rather than to make financial savings.