{"value":{"id":1908318,"askingMemberId":5310,"askingMember":null,"house":"Commons","memberHasInterest":false,"dateTabled":"2026-05-20T00:00:00","dateForAnswer":"2026-06-01T00:00:00","uin":"3657","questionText":"To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to ensure equitable access to timely treatment for common eye conditions in England.","answeringBodyId":17,"answeringBodyName":"Department of Health and Social Care","isWithdrawn":false,"isNamedDay":false,"groupedQuestions":[],"answerIsHolding":false,"answerIsCorrection":false,"answeringMemberId":4359,"answeringMember":null,"correctingMemberId":null,"correctingMember":null,"dateAnswered":"2026-06-01T00:00:00","answerText":"<p>Integrated care boards (ICBs) are responsible for commissioning primary and secondary eye care services to meet the needs of their local population. This can include the commissioning of enhanced eye care services, including community minor and urgent eye care services in the community.</p><p>ICBs will also take account of relevant National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidance when planning and delivering services.</p><p>ICBs are required to work with local authorities to assess the current and future health and care needs of their local population and to set out in joint local health and wellbeing strategies how those needs will be met. This includes consideration of how any identified inequalities in accessing services should be addressed.</p>","originalAnswerText":"","comparableAnswerText":"","dateAnswerCorrected":null,"dateHoldingAnswer":null,"attachmentCount":0,"heading":"Ophthalmic Services","attachments":[],"groupedQuestionsDates":[]},"links":[{"rel":"self","href":"/Questions/1908318","method":"GET"}]}