Department of Health and Social Care written question – answered at on 4 June 2026.
Marsha de Cordova
The Second Church Estates Commissioner
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to support capacity in hospital eye services, including through the use of optometry‑led diagnostic and treatment pathways.
Stephen Kinnock
Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
Integrated care boards are responsible for commissioning primary and secondary eye care services. This can include the commissioning of enhanced eye care services from high street optical practices, including minor and urgent eye care services and glaucoma referral refinement services.
Improvements in IT connectivity and the development of single points of access between primary care optometry and secondary care will also support more care being delivered in the community, in line with ambitions in the 10-Year Health Plan.
The number of ophthalmology pathways waiting over 52 weeks has reduced by 4,418 between the beginning of July 2024 and the end of March 2026, while the proportion of pathways waiting 18 weeks or less has increased by 6.8% to 72.9%. Improving waiting times and access to treatment will be vital to prevent avoidable sight loss.
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Secretary of State was originally the title given to the two officials who conducted the Royal Correspondence under Elizabeth I. Now it is the title held by some of the more important Government Ministers, for example the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs.
