§ Baroness Jay of Paddingtonasked Her Majesty's Government:
What was the number of patients who saw ophthalmic medical practitioners in each year since 1985–86.
§ Baroness CumberlegeThe number of patients who have seen ophthalmic medical practitioners is not known, as the department does not currently collect information on the number of private sight tests. The number of National Health Service sight tests carried out by ophthalmic medical practitioners and paid for by family health service authorities in England in each financial year, is as follows:—
Year Thousands 1985–86 1,289.0 1986–87 1,263.2 1987–88 1,310.4 1988–89 1,416.9 11989–90 515.4 1990–91 405.4 1991–92 464.0 1992–93 2482.8 1 From 1st April 1989. NHS sight tests were restricted to certain groups in the population. The sight tests paid for in 1989–90 included some conducted prior to 1st April 1989 when sight tests were universally available. The remainder paid for in 1989–90 do not represent a full year under the new system, because of the delay in payments. The figure for 1989–90 is not, therefore, directly comparable with that for 1990–91. 2 Provisional figures.