HC Deb 07 March 1985 vol 74 cc603-4W
Mr. Campbell-Savours

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will take action to ensure that opticians do not impede their customers' right to purchase spectacle frames in the private sector by denying or obstructing their right to be provided with a prescription.

Mr. Kenneth Clarke

From 1 April 1985 the National Health Service (General Ophthalmic Service) Amendment Regulations 1985 (SI 1985, No. 298) will require opticians to give a copy of the prescription to patients in all cases

Number of consultant contracts for each RHA, SHA and BG 1970–84
1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984
Northern
Total 715 723 688 693 771 785 806 807 825 835 844 867 886 908 922
Total paid 631 636 606 623 713 725 746 754 767 775 782 805 822 849 861
Whole-time 373 395 392 418 471 491 515 510 530 530 563 583 600 624 623
Maximum Part-time 206 186 183 179 181 189
Part-time 258 241 214 205 242 234 231 244 237 39 33 39 43 44 49
Honorary 84 87 82 70 58 60 60 53 58 60 62 62 64 59 61

where they need glasses. The optician should, of course, give the copy without making any charge for it. A practitioner who does not comply with the requirement will be in breach of his terms of service and liable to disciplinary action under service committee and tribunal regulations.