HC Deb 28 April 1988 vol 132 cc249-50W
Mr. Lofthouse

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how many people in the Pontefract area health authority had eye tests in the last year for which figures are available; and what estimate he can make of how many would not have received free tests if his Department's new regulations had applied at the time.

Mr. Newton

I assume that the hon. Member is referring to eye tests carried out under the general ophthalmic services. These are the responsibility of the family practitioner committee and it is not possible to give information for particular health authority areas. However, the figures for the Wakefield FPC, which includes the area covered by the Pontefract district health authority, were 68,449 for the year ended 31 December 1987. The provisions of the Health and Medicines Bill would confine NHS eye tests to children under 16, full time students under 19, the registered blind and partially sighted, people on low incomes and those with diabetes or glaucoma who are referred by the doctor managing their condition. It is estimated these groups account for a little over one third of eye tests.