§ Mr. Hastingsasked the Minister of Health whether, in order to save time, he will give instructions to ophthalmic opticians providing supplementary ophthalmic services under the National Health Service Act, to refer cases needing further investigation direct to ophthalmic surgeons, at the same time notifying the general practitioner in charge of the case.
§ Miss Hornsby-SmithNo. It is for the general practitioner to decide whether a patient requires specialist treatment, which will not always be that of an ophthalmologist. My right hon. Friend has no evidence that this causes needless delay.