Asked by: Baroness Bloomfield of Hinton Waldrist (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the number of Welsh patients required to travel to England for ophthalmology treatment in each of the last three years.
Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
It has not proved possible to respond to this question in the time available before Prorogation. Ministers will correspond directly with the Member.
Asked by: Baroness Bloomfield of Hinton Waldrist (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to work with devolved administrations to reduce administrative barriers in cross-border healthcare arrangements.
Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Government works closely with the devolved governments to support effective cross-border healthcare arrangements and ensure patients can access timely, high-quality care regardless of where they live.
We work jointly with partners to improve the practical operation of cross-border services. This includes efforts to strengthen data sharing and digital interoperability, support access to specialist services and unnecessary burdens on patients and providers.
There are established cross-border networks which bring together relevant organisations to address operational challenges and improve coordination of care.
Asked by: Baroness Bloomfield of Hinton Waldrist (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the merits of using longer-term commissioning arrangements with independent providers to reduce ophthalmology waiting lists.
Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
Commissioning decisions are for integrated care boards (ICBs) to make, who have a duty to arrange health services for the patients they are responsible for while living within their annual financial allocations.
The Government will continue to cut waiting lists, deliver more appointments, and make care more convenient as we work to make the National Health Service fit for the future and return to the 18-week standard. Since the General Election in July 2024, the ophthalmology waiting list has fallen, average waiting times have reduced, and 18‑week performance has improved from 66.1% to 69.7%.