§ Mr. Hooleyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish in the Official Report the numbers of ophthalmists working within the National Health Service in 1966 and 1976.
§ Mr. MoyleThe numbers of ophthalmic medical practitioners, ophthalmic opticians and dispensing opticians in the General Opthalmic Service at 31st December for the years 1966 to 1975 are given below. The 1976 figures are not yet available.
England and Wales 1966 1975 Ophthalmic medical practitioners 885 874 Ophthalmic Opticians 5,198 4,667 Dispensing Opticians 1,059 1,453 Some of these practitioners also hold hospital appointments.
The numbers and whole-time equivalents of doctors in the hospital service, excluding locum appointments and those 496W appointed under Paragraph 94 of the Terms and Conditions of Service, whose only or major speciality is ophthalmology at 30th September for the years 1966 and 1975 are:
England and Wales No. Wte. 1966 762 584.0 1975 905 778.9 The figures relating to England and Wales for 1976, which exclude the hospital practitioner grade, locum appointments and those appointed under Paragraph 94 of the terms and conditions of service, are 957 and 817 respectively. Figures for 1976 are not yet available.
The whole-time equivalent of ophthalmic and dispensing opticians in the hospital service at 30th September for the years 1966 and 1975 is, to the nearest whole number, as follows:
England and Wales 1966 1975 Wte Ophthalmic Opticians 58 92 Dispensing Opticians 35 37 The 1976 figures are not yet available. Wte = whole time equivalent.