HC Deb 06 July 1993 vol 228 c121W
Dame Jill Knight

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of people over the age of 60, 65 and 70 years are eligible for an NHS eye examination.

Dr. Mawhinney

This information is not available centrally as not all the categories of exemption can be broken down into age bands.

Dame Jill Knight

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is(a) the average cost of a visit to a hospital ophthalmic out-patient department and (b) the current fee payable to an optometrist and an ophthalmic medical practitioner for an NHS eye examination.

Dr. Mawhinney

In 1991–92, the average total cost per ophthalmology out-patient attendance was approximately £39.

The current national health service sight test fees payable to optometrists and ophthalmic medical prac-titioners are £12.75 and £10.15 respectively.