SEEABILITY REPORT DELIVERING AN EQUAL RIGHT TO SIGHT

That this House notes that people with learning disabilities experience alarmingly high levels of sight problems, but also unequal access to the eye care they need, leaving many with poor vision or even loss off sight; understands that working age adults with learning disabilities are not automatically entitled to an NHS-funded sight test, and many have to pay, unlike people in other high risk groups who are entitled to such a test; observes that the national fee structure and contract for NHS sight tests fails to reflect the need of people with learning disabilities who are likely to need additional time or appointments to complete a sight test; draws attention to NHS England's legal obligations in respect of reducing inequalities of access to health services; further notes NHS England's commitments to improve the health of people with learning disabilities and get serious about prevention; and further notes the recommendations in national charity SeeAbility's report, Delivering An Equal Right to Sight, which calls on NHS England to establish national pathways of eye care for people with learning disabilities, including for children in special schools, and for all working age adults with learning disabilities to be eligible for NHS-funded sight tests.