§ Mr. Austin Mitchellasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) how many frame types are included in the full range of National Health Service spectacle frames; and how many frames were available (a) 10 and (b) 20 years previously;
(2) how often the range of National Health Service spectacle frames is revised to take account of fashion changes, new materials and so on; and when was the last revision.
§ Mr. Shersbyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will review the range of National Health Service spectacle frames now available with a view to providing better and more attractive frames.
§ Dr. VaughanTwenty years ago there were 23 different NHS frames available for adults and six different frames for children. Ten years ago the figures were 18 and seven, respectively, and at the present time 12 frames are available for adults and five for children. The differences are either in style or in the material used. The reduction in the number of frame types available has been because of the withdrawal of some frames due to lack of demand, and of those remaining some have been modified over the years.
The range of frames does not attempt to reflect the changing fashion trends, but they are made in a full range of sizes to meet patients' clinical and fitting needs and to 444W conform to British standards specifications. The last review resulted in the present metal—gold-filled—wholeeye frame being available from 1979 without its previous plastic covering. I have, in conjunction with the optical profession and industry, been reviewing the NHS range of frames and am hoping that some improvement can be made fairly soon.
§ Mr. Shersbyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will take steps to ensure that registered ophthalmic opticians receive a fee for their professional services which would encourage greater use of National health Service frames and at the same time encourage a higher standard of ophthalmic practice.
§ Dr. VaughanWe are currently negotiating new levels of NHS sight-testing and dispensing fees with representatives of the optical professions. Fees are negotiated on the basis of the costs incurred by the profession when carrying out NHS sight-testings and dispensings.
The standard of ophthalmic practice in the general ophthalmic services is very high. It is for the individual patient to decide whether to buy NHS or private frames. My hon. Friend may be interested to know that NHS frames already account for 50 per cent. of all new frames supplied.
§ Mr. Shersbyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what increases have taken place in the professional fees paid to registered ophthalmic opticians since 1975;
(2) whether any negotiations are currently taking place concerning an increase in the examination fee to registered ophthalmic opticians; and what is his policy for ensuring that registered ophthalmic opticians receive fees commensurate with the professional work that they carry out.
§ Dr. VaughanThe fees payable to ophthalmic opticians for the testing of sight and dispensing of optical appliances have increased since 1975 as set out in the following tables 1 and 2:
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Table 1: Fees payable to Ophthalmic Opticians for the testing of sight Per sight-text £ 1 April 1975 2.80 1 January 1976 3.10 1 July 1976 3.60 1 July 1977 3.70 1 August 1978 4.00 1 January 1979 4.25 1 January 1980 4.50
1 July 1975 1 April 1976 1 October 1976 1 April 1981 Table 2: Fees payable to opticians for the supply, replacement or repair of optical applicances NHS frames or other reglazed frames New private frames NHS frames or other reglazed frames New private frames NHS frames or other reglazed frames New private frames NHS frames or other reglazed frames New private frames £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ 1. Dispensing fee payable where, following a change of prescription, two lenses are supplied, whether the optician or applicant supplies the frame; or where, following a change of prescription, new frame and one lens only are supplied; or where a complete pair of glasses is replaced without change of prescription. a. single-vision lenses 3.15 1.40 3.45 1.55 4.25 2.05 4.45 2.65 b. bifocal lenses 4.05 1.90 4.45 2.10 5.45 2.75 5.65 2.95 2. Dispensing fee payable where, following a change of prescription, one lens only is supplied to the applicant's own frame 2.50 N/A 2.75 N/A 3.40 N/A 3.60 N/A 3. Where two or more pairs of glasses of different powers are prescribed following a sight test, the dispensing fee for each pair of any type additional to the first shall be 2.00 1.00 2.20 1.10 2.70 1.40 2.90 1.60 Negotiations to determine new sight-test and dispensing fees are currently under way in the form of the optical Whitley Council following the completion of studies carried out into practice activities and costs. In these negotiations I ensure that the value of the professional work carried out by opticians is given full weight and is properly reflected in the levels of fees agreed upon. The fees in payment since 1978 have been at interim rates and the levels of fees currently being negotiated will take effect from either a current or forward date.
Final arrears will be paid when new fees have been set. In the meantime, we are making lump sum payments of arrears for the period from 1 January 1978 based on a percentage of the total fees paid to each optician extablishment during this period. A payment has already been made to ophthalmic optician establishments and a further payment will be made to this group and to dispensing optician establishments early in the new year.