HC Deb 14 July 1977 vol 935 cc218-9W
Mr. Nicholas Winterton

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many eye tests were undertaken by opticians under the National Health Service in the area covered by the Macclesfield constituency in each of the last four years.

Mr. Moyle

The number of sight tests carried out under the general ophthalmic services by ophthalmic opticians in the Cheshire Family Practitioner Committee area—and previously the larger Cheshire Executive Council area—in which the Macclesfield constituency is included is given below for the years requested. The figures are based on a 1 per cent. sample.

Calendar Year and number of sight tests
Cheshire Executive Council area 1973 118,700
(became the smaller Cheshire FPC area on 1st April 1974) 1974 100,400
Cheshire Family Practitioner area 1975 104,800
1976 105,900

The total number of sight tests performed under the General Ophthalmic Services (by both ophthalmic opticians and ophthalmic medical practitioners) for the Cheshire FPC area in the past four years was as follows (actual number):

Calendar Year and number of sight tests
Cheshire Executive Council area 1973 137,758
subsequently 1974 118,885
Cheshire Family Practitioner area 1975 125,473
1976 128,403