§ Mr. HardyTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the number of eye tests carried out in each region of England and Wales in 1989 and in 1987.
§ Mrs. Virginia BottomleyStatistics on the number of NHS sight tests paid for in each region in England and Wales for the financial year 1989–90 will be available shortly. The table gives the numbers of NHS sight tests paid for in each regional health authority for the periods April to September 1987 and April to September 1989. These figures are not directly comparable, as the figures since April 1989 exclude sight tests paid for privately.
275W
Regional Health Authority Total sight tests—all National Health Service April-September 1987 National Health Service sight tests only—private tests excluded April-September 1989 Northern 332,940 209,990 Yorkshire 400,000 261,850 Trent 517,850 329,140 East Anglia 220,730 114,740 North West Thames 448,510 253,140 North East Thames 486,800 300,170 South East Thames 421,660 248,280 South West Thames 344,990 184,260 Wessex 364,310 229,320 Oxford 290,090 126,390
Regional Health Authority Total sight tests—all National Health Service April-September 1987 National Health Service sight tests only—private tests excluded April-September 1989 South Western 432,720 272,100 West Midlands 636,590 403,370 Mersey 249,520 169,420 North Western 434,300 277,720 Wales 325,470 170,070