NHS Charges (Hansard, 22 October 1991)

§ Mr. Redmond
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the current percentage of persons in the United Kingdom who are exempt from paying for(a) eye tests. (b) dental examinations and (c) prescription charges.

§ Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
It is estimated that 40 per cent. of the population in England are entitled to free national health service sight tests and that 47.7 per cent. are entitled to free prescriptions. The information relating to dental examinations is not available in the form requested. However, of those people actually attending the dentist, approximately 42 per cent. are exempt from charges, including examination fees.
The information relating to Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland is a matter for my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Wales, for Scotland and for Northern Ireland.

§ Mr. Redmond
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what are the current categories of persons in the United Kingdom who are exempt from paying for(a) eye tests, (b) dental examinations and (c) prescription charges.

§ Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
The following categories of persons are exempt from paying for eye tests, dental examinations and prescription charges:

(a) Children under 16;

(b) Young people over 16 and under 19 in full time education;

(c) Income Support and Family Credit recipients and their dependants;

(d) People assessed as living on a low income under the NHS Low Income Scheme and their dependants;

(e) War disablement pensioners whose treatment is for their accepted disability.

Additionally, the following categories of persons are exempt from paying specific charges:
Eye tests

(a) People who need certain complex lenses;

(b) People who are registered blind or partially sighted;

(c) Diagnosed diabetics or glaucoma sufferers;

(d) Close relatives aged 40 or over of diagnosed glaucoma sufferers;

(e) Patients of the Hospital Eye Service.

Denial examinations

(a) Young People over 16 and under 18;

(b) Women who are pregnant at the time they are accepted for treatment;

(c) Women who have had a baby in the last 12 months.

Precription charges

(a) Men aged over 65, women aged over 60;

(b) Pregnant women and women who have had a baby in the last 12 months;

(c) People who suffer from one of a number of specified medical conditions;
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(d) People who arc unable to leave home unaided because of a permanent physical disability.