§ Tim LoughtonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many people qualified for free NHS eye tests in the last year(a) as a percentage of the population and (b) broken down by patient type; [75544]
(2) how many people had free NHS eye tests in each of the last five years. [75545]
§ Mr. Lammy[holding answers 21 October 2002]: Information on the number of people having a National Health Service sight test is not available. Figures in the table relate numbers of NHS sight tests paid for by health authorities contracted under general ophthalmic services. Sight tests can not be equated to the numbers of patients. Although most people do not come back for a sight test within the year, some patients suffering from medical conditions are advised to have re-examinations sooner.
Table 1: Number of GOS Sight Tests Paid for by Health Authorities from 1997–98 to 2001–02. England Year millions Number of sight test 1997–98 6.99 1998–99 6.99 1999–2000 9.40 2000–01 9.57 2001–02 9.81 Note:
Eligibility for NHS sight tests was extended to patients aged 60 and over from 1 April 1999.
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Table 2: Number of GOS Sight Tests Paid for by Health Authorities, by Patient Eligibility for the Year Ending 31 March 2002. England Eligibility group thousands Number of sight test Persons aged 60 and over 4,013 Children 0–15 2,375 Students 16–18 488 Adults receiving IS1 1,082 Adults receiving WFTC1 413 Adults receiving DPTC1 37 Adults receiving JSA1 230 Low income certificate holders (HC2) 164
Table 2: Number of GOS Sight Tests Paid for by Health Authorities, by Patient Eligibility for the Year Ending 31 March 2002. England Eligibility group thousands Number of sight test Registered blind/partially sighted 19 Diabetics/Glaucoma sufferers 433 Needs complex lenses 61 Relatives 40 & over2 492 Total NHS sight test 9,807 Notes:
1 Income Support, Working Families Tax Credit, Disabled Persons Tax Credit and Job Seekers allowance.
2 Close relatives of glaucoma sufferers aged 40 and over.
§ Tim LoughtonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment has been made by his Department of the cost to optometrists of operating each free NHS eye test. [75546]
§ Mr. Lammy[holding answer 21 October 2002]: The Department has not commissioned any recent surveys to identify and itemise the costs of these independent contractors, which will vary from practice to practice. In negotiating the National Health Service sight test fee, the Department and the representative bodies for optometrists and ophthalmic medical practitioners put forward the factors they consider should be weighed in determining an appropriate fee level. For the Department, these are the state of recruitment, retention and motivation within the general ophthalmic service, together with affordability.