§ Mr. JenkinsTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many old age pensioners to the Tamworth constituency have benefited from the introduction of free eye tests in each year since 1997. [188127]
§ Dr. LadymanData for the number of sight tests by constituency or by the number or pensioners are not collected centrally. Free sight tests for patients aged 60 and over came into effect on 1 April 1999.
The total number of national health service sight tests paid for patients aged 60 and over in the Shropshire and Staffordshire Strategic Health Authority for the years 1999–2000 to 2003–04 are shown in the table.
Sight tests 1999–2000 105,830 2000–01 120,100 2001–02 115,940 2002–03 138,050 2003–04 139,450 Note: Some patients aged 60 and over will be eligible for sight tests for other reasons as well, for example, on income grounds. The classification for such patients will depend on the patient and the practitioner. Sight tests cannot 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 reexaminations sooner.