Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what mechanisms NHS commissioners use to measure experiences of and outcome for eye patients.

This is the responsibility of each local clinical commissioning group (CCG) and we do not collect this information.

However, the Public Health Outcomes Framework includes an indicator on preventable sight loss which tracks three of the commonest causes of preventable sight loss, age-related macular degeneration, glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy. The open availability of this data provides a resource for commissioners and local health and wellbeing boards to identify what is needed in their areas and for comparisons to be made with other areas.

The CCG Outcomes Indicator Set also provides clear, comparative information for CCGs, health and wellbeing boards, local authorities, patients and the public about the quality of health services commissioned by CCGs and the associated health outcomes. The indicators are useful for CCGs and health and wellbeing boards in identifying local priorities for quality improvement and to demonstrate progress that local health systems are making on outcomes.