8. What action is the Minister taking to improve the provision of eye care in Wales? OQ59029

The Welsh Government is committed to improving healthcare services in Wales, and improving provision for people with poor eye health is a priority. This work is already under way through implementation of new optometry contracted terms of service, which I announced in a written statement issued in September last year. 

Thanks, Minister. I'd like to ask you about plans to reduce financial help for some of the poorest and most vulnerable people in Wales towards the cost of their NHS glasses. I understand the proposal is to lower the current £39.10 contribution for children and adults on some benefits to £22. You claim the amount was agreed with the group that represents optometrists in Wales, however Optometry Wales says that, as a negotiating team, they were not in favour of supporting the changes to the voucher system proposed by the Welsh Government. Indeed, in a statement, they said the plans have caused significant concern among practitioners who are worried about the level of support patients on means-tested benefits will be able to access under the new contracts. The Federation of Ophthalmic and Dispensing Opticians has also expressed concerns that patients who depend on means-tested benefits will be worse off when accessing essential vision correction and warn of a significant reduction in domiciliary capacity, which will worsen eye health outcomes going forward. So, what assessment have you made, Minister, about the impact of this policy decision on the eyecare of patients, given the current economic circumstances that we're all experiencing? Thank you.

Thanks very much. The new Wales general ophthalmic services voucher value reflects the actual cost of providing services and glasses through the introduction of appropriately costed fees. What we have made sure is that those most in need continue to receive the most appropriate service, and I would encourage the Member to look again at Optometry Wales's website because actually, they did put out a statement, which they subsequently withdrew—I think that statement was posted by the UK body rather than the Welsh body, with whom we have a very good relationship where we've worked through these things. We really are at the cutting edge of ophthalmic services in the United Kingdom, making sure that we do things in a very different way in partnership, so we were quite surprised to see the statement that was issued, but they have withdrawn that statement, following conversations.