HC Deb 10 July 1996 vol 281 c236W
Mrs. Dunwoody

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the number of opticians accepting NHS patients in(a) Crewe and Nantwich and (b) Cheshire for each of the last five years. [36495]

Mr. Malone

Below are the number of ophthalmic opticians, OOs, and ophthalmic medical practitioners, OMPs, under contract with Cheshire family health services authority to carry out national health service sight tests as at 31 December each year. Separate figures for Crewe and Nantwich are not held centrally.

Year OOs OMPs Total
1991 153 17 170
1992 171 13 184
1993 157 16 173
1994 174 15 189
1995 178 20 198