Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of reviewing NICE guidance to ensure that psychological therapies are integrated in the eye care pathway.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) develops comprehensive guidance for healthcare professionals on best practice in a defined disease area. NICE guidelines are developed by experts based on a thorough assessment of the available evidence and extensive engagement with interested parties, who also help determine the scope of any guideline. There is not a single ‘eye care pathway’, rather NICE has issued guidelines on several different eye conditions, including macular degeneration, glaucoma, and cataracts.

The macular degeneration guideline acknowledges the psychological impact of the condition and signposts to the NICE guideline on the management of depression in chronic health problems, which is relevant to people with all conditions, including eye conditions. The glaucoma guideline also refers to patents being given information on support organisations and groups.