Oral Answers to Questions

Lord Harrington of Watford Excerpts

Tuesday 7th July 2015 Commons Chamber

[George Freeman]

My answer of a few moments ago stands. Decisions on the commissioning of those machines are taken on a case-by-case basis locally. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence has set out in guidance that cough-assist machines may be appropriate for some patients, but not in every area.

[Richard Harrington (Watford) (Con)]

4. For what reasons his Department categorises corrective refractive eye surgery for medical purposes as cosmetic surgery.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health (Ben Gummer)]

The Department does not categorise refractive laser eye surgery for medical purposes as cosmetic surgery. Laser eye surgery is regulated through providers registered with the Care Quality Commission. Doctors carrying out the surgery must be registered with the General Medical Council and, like all doctors, they must recognise and work within their competence.

[Richard Harrington]

My constituent Mr Shabir Ahmed, whom I have visited, was repeatedly recommended, by the optician he went to for his NHS eye test, to have an eye operation involving complex refractive laser surgery. Over two years, the optician called him every month, bringing the price down until it was half what it was originally. It did not work out: the surgery led to a significant deterioration in his eyesight, and the company denies all responsibility and liability. It seems to me—

[Mr Speaker]

Order.

[Richard Harrington]

Mr Speaker, please bear with me for two sentences. Surgery as complex as that needs the same kind of regulation as if it were in hospital.

[Mr Speaker]

Questions do need to be shorter, otherwise they will eat into everyone else’s time.