Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 30 January 2020 to Question 8394 on Ophthalmic Services and with reference to the covid-19 outbreak, what the timelines are for the development and publication of the National Ophthalmology Plan.

Further to the answer given on 30 January, NHS England and NHS Improvement’s national outpatient transformation programme has already begun, although there will not be a formally published National Ophthalmology Plan.

NHS England and NHS Improvement are currently developing guidance and support to improve ophthalmology outpatient services and avoid the need for physical attendances where possible. This includes already appointed dedicated clinical leadership, pathway design and practical resources to be shared with local health systems to both support restoration of ophthalmology outpatient services post-COVID-19 and enable future transformation.

NHS England and NHS Improvement are working closely with the Royal College of Ophthalmologists, the College of Optometrists and other key stakeholders.