Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of using existing high street optometry practices to deliver diagnostic services.

High street optometrists play a vital role in the early detection of a range of eye conditions. Integrated care boards are responsible for commissioning primary and secondary eye care services and can commission additional diagnostic services from high street optometrists based on providers and priorities in their areas, for example additional testing to support effective referrals to secondary care.