§ Mr. DonohoeTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland which health boards in Scotland operate remote area schemes under the General Ophthalmic Services Regulations; when these services were introduced in these areas; what was the cost of 469W providing this service in the health board areas in each financial year for each health board; which areas are covered by the remote area schemes; what are the numbers of opticians employed by each health board to provide this remote area service; and how many patients are seen as part of these schemes.
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonProvisions permitting the operation of remote area schemes within general
General Ophthalmic Services: Remote areas schemes Health Boards Date of introduction Argyll and Clyde 1976 Highland 1976 Orkney 1989 Shetland 1976 Western Isles 1976 1991–92 Cost1 £2,764 £1,104 £1,142 — — No. of Opticians 3 1 1 3n\a n\a No. of Patients seen2 293 142 191 — — 1992–93 Cost £2,375 £862 £949 — — No. of Opticians 3 1 1 n\a n\a No. of Patients seen 291 98 164 — — 1993–94 Cost £2,405 £878 £700 4— £1,849 No. of Opticians 2 1 1 1 1 No. of Patients seen 295 92 151 21 135 1 Cost includes the expenses of the optician but does not include the cost of sight tests performed as vouchers dispensed. 2 The same patient may be counted more than once if he/she was seen on more than one occasion. 3 Information not readily available: could only be provided at excessive cost. 4 No claim for expenses made by optician.