Sight Tests (Hansard, 22 July 1993)

Mr. William O'Brien
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what are the estimated savings made in 1992–93 as a result of the introduction of a charge for sight tests.

§ Mr. Ancram
[holding answer 21 July 1993]: The sum is £2.3 million.

Mr. William O'Brien
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many national health service eye examinations have been undertaken since 1985 in each health and social services board and in Northern Ireland.

§ Mr. Ancram
[holding answer 21 July 1993]: The number of health service sight tests undertaken in each year is shown in the table.

Thousands

Health and Social Services Board

Calendar year Eastern Northern Southern Western Northern Ireland Total

1985 100.8 55.0 31.7 31.8 219.3

1986 105.3 57.2 32.9 33.2 228.6

1987 113.5 61.3 34.9 35.2 244.9

1988 130.6 67.2 41.4 40.4 279.6

¹1989 86.0 48.4 28.3 29.2 191.9

1990 45.1 30.0 20.0 19.8 114.9

1991 52.3 35.0 23.9 24.7 135.9

1992 62.0 39.2 27.4 28.6 157.2

¹ From 1 April 1989 health service sight tests were restricted to certain groups in the population. The 1989 figures therefore include sight tests carried out under both the old and the new schemes. Consequently the 1989 figures are not directly comparable with those in 1990.

Thousands
	Health and Social Services Board
Calendar year	Eastern	Northern	Southern	Western	Northern Ireland Total
1985	100.8	55.0	31.7	31.8	219.3
1986	105.3	57.2	32.9	33.2	228.6
1987	113.5	61.3	34.9	35.2	244.9
1988	130.6	67.2	41.4	40.4	279.6
¹1989	86.0	48.4	28.3	29.2	191.9
1990	45.1	30.0	20.0	19.8	114.9
1991	52.3	35.0	23.9	24.7	135.9
1992	62.0	39.2	27.4	28.6	157.2
¹ From 1 April 1989 health service sight tests were restricted to certain groups in the population. The 1989 figures therefore include sight tests carried out under both the old and the new schemes. Consequently the 1989 figures are not directly comparable with those in 1990.